Oceantic Statement: SouthCoast Wind Final Environmental Review Builds Offshore Wind Momentum

­Oceantic Network celebrates last week's announcement by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the SouthCoast Wind project, being developed by Oceantic member company Ocean Winds North America. Once approved and constructed, the project will generate 2.4 GW, enough to power over 800,000 homes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The project secured offtake agreements with both states in September, contracted to deliver 1,087 MW to Massachusetts and 200 MW to Rhode Island. The project was first leased in late 2018.

The FEIS covers an area of 127,388 acres and allows for the installation of 147 wind turbines, five offshore substations, and eight offshore export cables. In its construction, the project will use American purpose-built vessels, supply chain companies, and deep-water ports that have undergone redevelopment to support the U.S. offshore wind industry, including New Bedford and Salem, Massachusetts and ProvPort in Rhode Island.

The following statement can be attributed to Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network:

“The completed environmental review for SouthCoast Wind represents further momentum for the offshore wind industry and a substantial step towards delivering reliable energy for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. With its final approval later this year, the U.S. market will have eleven commercial-scale projects either completed, under development, or ready to break ground, representing more American jobs and tens of billions of dollars in economic activity. This massive project, first leased during the first Trump administration, will create thousands of jobs and drive hundreds of millions into the national economy through investments in manufacturing and New England port facilities. We applaud BOEM’s consistent and thorough regulatory process, which is attracting new investments in our 39-state supply chain and is enabling significant economic progress across our nation. Oceantic congratulates developer member Ocean Winds and looks forwards to SouthCoast Wind’s timely construction.”