Wind Power News: Massachusetts
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Feds announce possible location for Gulf of Maine wind farm
Maine’s lobster industry opposes plans for a commercial wind energy facility in a 2-million-acre swath of the gulf. Federal officials announced Friday they have identified a 2-million-acre swath of the Gulf of Maine for a commercial wind farm. The designated area ranges from about 23 to 93 miles off the coasts of Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said the area is 80% smaller than the initial proposal and avoids lobstering areas, tribal fishing grounds, . . . Complete story »
Dismantled Pemberton wind turbine won’t be replaced; Hull Wind II remains offline
The wind turbine at Pemberton Point taken down last month will not be replaced, and the seawall damage that occurred when the tower fell to the ground will be paid by the demolition company, town officials said this week. Meanwhile, at the other end of town, Hull Wind II at the landfill remains offline, awaiting repairs to its computer system, according to Hull Municipal Light Board Chair Patrick Cannon. “Once that work is completed, hopefully within the next couple of . . . Complete story »
Brayton Point offshore wind plant hits snag: Residents challenge state air quality permit
The Italian company seeking to build an offshore wind manufacturing facility in Somerset hit a roadblock this week when 12 residents of the community filed a last-minute challenge to a state air quality permit the company needs to begin construction. Prysmian Group, which is seeking to build a $300 million subsea cable manufacturing plant at Brayton Point, did not respond to a request for comment. But Jamison Souza, the chair of the town’s Select Board, angrily condemned the filing and . . . Complete story »
Raising their voices: Offshore wind opponents share environmental, health worries
Since the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts went into high gear, a group of Cape residents say their concerns about potential harm to the environment and public health have been dismissed and ridiculed. So, they held a summit. On Saturday, more than 300 people crowded into a meeting room at the Hyport Conference Center in Hyannis to hear speakers – from Cape Cod, Maine, Rhode Island and Virginia – who addressed many of the residents’ concerns. One theme among those who spoke . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind and the stress on commercial fishermen
Congressional Republicans are sounding the Mayday alarm this weekend to the grave challenges commercial fishermen face resulting from the Biden administration’s offshore wind agenda. Offshore wind development is placing enormous stress on the American commercial fishing fleet, which may not survive these challenges. A trio of coastal lawmakers, Reps. Andy. Harris (R-Md.), Chris Smith (R.-N.J.), and Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) will explore offshore wind farm interactions at an upcoming hearing, which their colleagues and the public should heed. President Joe . . . Complete story »
Vineyard Wind project again misses target for delivering energy
The calendar flipped to 2024 on Monday, but Massachusetts still has not gotten any power from the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm, the second time the project has failed to meet the “first power” target set by top officials. A spokesman for Avangrid, which along with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners makes up the Vineyard Wind 1 joint venture, said Tuesday morning that the first of the project’s 62 turbines generated power Sunday evening but that more testing was required before . . . Complete story »
New Bedford officials not celebrating Vineyard Wind’s latest jobs report
Only 18% of Vineyard Wind’s union workers reside in New Bedford – and a local union chief says the developer’s actions have led his workers to lose jobs in the port. Vineyard Wind released its latest annual job report to widespread political acclaim this month, as Gov. Maura Healey and local state representatives applauded the offshore wind developer’s improvements in hiring local and union workers. Gains over the previous year’s numbers met or exceeded some benchmarks, but New Bedford’s mayor says . . . Complete story »
Cape Cod residents say no to offshore wind transmission lines under beaches
Three iconic beaches are slated to be landing spots for high-voltage cables carrying power from offshore wind. But not if these residents get their way. The scene at Barnstable High School on a recent Monday night felt like a homecoming rally – all anxious energy, cheers, and hugs. A crush of bodies flooded the hallway as revelers greeted friends and handed out fliers to people pouring into the auditorium. Except these weren’t high schoolers filling the corridor. This was a public . . . Complete story »
Shell exits US SouthCoast wind farm contract, agrees to pay penalty
Shell’s finance chief said on Thursday the firm had exited a power purchase agreement (PPA) for the planned SouthCoast windfarm off the coast of Massachusetts, agreeing to pay a penalty rather than face rising costs for building the project. Energy firms from BP (BP.L) to Orsted (ORSTED.CO) have announced hefty writedowns in recent days for their U.S. windfarm projects in the face of high inflation. Reporting by Shadia Nasralla and Ron Bousso Complete story »
A tricky, sticky mineral that’s challenging offshore wind developers
Offshore wind developers are encountering an unexpected challenge on the East Coast seafloor: a crushable, green mineral called glauconite, sometimes precisely where they plan to install wind turbines. The mineral – which dates back to the age of the dinosaurs – is weaker and less predictable than sand, scientists say, presenting a new engineering puzzle for researchers and wind developers to solve. Glauconite’s behavior poses a “significant risk” to offshore wind development, said a paper published this year by the U.S. Bureau . . . Complete story »