New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal to be Leased to Offshore Wind Developers
GoLocalProv News Team
New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal to be Leased to Offshore Wind Developers
The letter of intent with the offshore wind developers represents a commitment to a two-year lease at $5.7 million annually to use the terminal.
“Massachusetts has achieved another major milestone in securing a clean energy future for the Commonwealth’s rate payers. With this agreement, Massachusetts stands to recognize jobs and economic benefits from this emerging sector within the clean energy industry, and will continue to lead the nation in offshore wind development and renewable energy innovation,” said Governor Charlie Baker.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe agreement with the developers, who hold leases in the federally identified offshore wind energy development areas located 14 miles south of Martha's Vineyard, builds upon Massachusetts' commitment to a diverse energy portfolio and position as a leader in offshore wind.
“This is a big step forward in establishing a supply chain that will produce quality jobs and long-term economic growth on the South Coast and throughout Massachusetts. This agreement builds on the historic energy legislation recently signed by our administration, and will help ensure we meet our ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets while also creating a stronger economy for the Commonwealth,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito.
The announcement follows the administration's recent signing of comprehensive energy legislation that requires utilities to competitively solicit and contract for approximately 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind and 1,200 MW of other clean energy generation like Hydropower.
The legislation spurs the development of an emerging offshore wind industry to create jobs and represents the largest commitment by any state in the nation to offshore wind.
New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal
The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is a multi-purpose, 26-acre facility designed to support the construction, assembly and deployment of offshore wind projects, as well as a handle bulk, break-bulk, container and large specialty marine cargo.
The first of its kind in North America, the terminal has been engineered to sustain mobile crane and storage loads which rival the highest capacity ports in the world.
“The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal will play a critical role in supporting an offshore wind industry here and we are pleased to sign the LOI. We already know the benefits that the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal can provide the region and the industry having used it as our mobilization base for the research vessel, The RV Ocean Researcher that sailed from the terminal earlier this month to conduct a geophysical survey in our lease area south of Martha’s Vineyard,” said Thomas Brostrøm, General Manager of North America, DONG Energy Wind Power (U.S.) Inc.
The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is operated by MassCEC.
5 Economic Projects - Can Raimondo Get Them Done?
#5 Wexford-CV Properties
The Raimondo administration continues to work with the 195 Commission to seal the deal with the Baltimore-based Wexford Science and Technology for development of prime real estate on the former highway land. While a proposal was made back in June for a mixed-use project, the negotiations between the state and the life sciences have been mostly behind the scenes, with a key vote taken on the proposal taking place Monday night -- in closed session.
"It is important to note that a P&S while an important milestone, is still just a step in the development process," said Commission spokesperson Dyana Koelsch. You can see the plan as presented on the Jewelry District's website HERE. Will we see shovels shortly?
#4 General Electric
Reports that the Connecticut giant is eyeing a move elsewhere — with Rhode Island on that short list — has many a Ocean Stater excited at the possibility. The Boston Globe not surprisingly made the case that their state should top the list (taking a dig at the others), saying that the "Boston area is on the short list of contenders for the headquarters and its 800 people, as GE’s search focuses on high-cost states in the Northeast. In relation to those states, Massachusetts compares favorably on its business tax climate."
However a Connecticut State Rep told the Hartford Courant a month earlier that Rhode Island as an option “wouldn’t surprise him.” Said State Rep John Frey in November, “It's been expressed to me by a couple of people at GE that they've been impressed by what the governor has done with state employee liabilities." To say a GE coup by Raimondo would be monumental for Rhode Island would be an understatement.
#3 Citizens' Campus
The Rhode Island-based banking powerhouse has indicated that is looking for a vacant location state as a potential new campus for 4,000 + of its employees — while maintaining its headquarters downtown at One Citizens Plaza. There is little indication at this time however of consideration of a vacant parcel of prime Providence real estate just to its HQ's south (that being the Industrial National Bank “Superman” building); the bank is indicating that keeping its support facility in Cranston is still an option.
“The lease for our service and support facility in Cranston expires in 2018. We are exploring several opportunities ranging from renewal to potentially consolidating some of our staff and back office functions at a new location in Rhode Island," said Citizens spokesperson Jim Hughes. Watch to see how Citizens moves forward -- and what, if any, role Raimondo has in the process -- and outcome.
#2 Superman Building
The arguably most iconic building in Providence — and Rhode Island’s - skyline lost its last tenant in 2013, and a year later an appraiser deemed it to have “zero value.” A failed effort to utilized tax credits and public investment by High Rock Development has left watchers asking if and when anything is going to move into the historic (if slightly aging) building.
Former Mayor and real estate developer Joseph Paolino, who has been a vocal supporter of trying to get Citizens Bank into Superman, told GoLocal, “I think the biggest problem [in the city] is Superman, because it depresses everything around it. Paolino, who bought three properties nearby downtown back in 2014 — said the revelation that the Industrial National Bank building was empty had cost him a mortgage with a major lender.
Whether there is an opportunity for a Citizens Bank move, or a new developer to re-package a viable mixed-use proposal, if the Superman building is still empty in several years' time, that is not a win for anyone -- not the city, not the state, and not the Governor.
#1 195 Rollout
When Raimondo took office, she understandably made a number of changes on the 195 Commission. A tax stabilization agreement (TSA) structure was finalized this past summer, and the Commission has the Wexford biotech proposal moving forward — but how much more development, and how soon, will the Raimondo administration be able to accomplish what it pledged it would do?
Raimondo called for the 195 land to be a manufacturing hub during her campaign — and while year one might have been setting the stage, the next years are critical for the state — and Governor. Will she usher through her proposed Innovation Institute?
