Bay State Wind, a joint venture between Ørsted and Eversource, has submitted a proposal for offshore wind energy generation in Martha’s Vineyard.
The proposal was submitted on Aug. 23 in response to the commonwealth’s second Request for Proposals.
A previous bid was made by Vineyard Wind, a joint venture by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables.
Gov. Charlie Baker had previously shown his support for the project, meeting with the Interior Secretary, David Bernhardt, who oversees the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
“Since day one our team has been focused on delivering cost-effective, renewable offshore wind energy to the Bay State,” said President of Ørsted North America and CEO of Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind Thomas Brostrøm. “Our project will not only create jobs and provide local investment, it will be delivered by the offshore wind’s leading experts to ensure the project is achievable, sustainable and successful for the commonwealth.”
The proposed wind farm is an 84-turbine, 800-megawatt farm, 14 nautical miles from Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Mass.
This could power up to 500,000 homes, create up to 1,200 new jobs within the commonwealth during construction and up to 10,800 direct and indirect jobs over the life of the project.
“Bay State Wind is the most experienced, dependable partner to help Massachusetts realize its ambitions of becoming the hub for offshore wind development in North America,” said Brostrøm.
The project hasn’t been received well by everyone.
“I’m an advocate for renewable energy and sustainable fisheries. I just think this project is going to have way more of an impact than they are saying it is,” said commercial fisherman John Osmers. “Who knows what we’re going to disturb and what species of marine life we’re going to damage with this project? I’d like to for there to be renewable energy, I just don’t think this is the way.”
“I am also 100 percent in support of renewable energies. But I am also 100 percent opposed to Vineyard Wind’s project,” said fisherman Preston Butler. “Our cod stocks are finally coming back, and all of a sudden you guys want to sit there on a boat and pile-drive the crap out of the ocean floor for god knows how long.”
“Our team has been in the local communities, meeting with residents and stakeholders, to ensure their feedback is built into Bay State Wind’s proposal,” said Eversource Executive Vice President for Enterprise Energy Strategy and Business Development Lee Olivier. “Which is the most mature, comprehensive and thorough offshore wind project available.”