Wind Power News: Massachusetts
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch 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.
Endangered whales at risk from offshore wind, NOAA scientist warns
Planned wind projects off the New England coast threaten to harm the region’s dwindling population of endangered right whales, according to a US government marine scientist. The warning from a top National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration official, obtained by Bloomberg under a Freedom of Information Act request, underscores the potential legal and environmental perils of offshore wind development along the coast. President Joe Biden has a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind within the decade. Both initial construction . . . Complete story »
DPU rejects wind developer’s bid for contract relief
Dealing a potentially major setback to the state’s emerging offshore wind industry, the Department of Public Utilities rejected a request by Avangrid to delay action on a power purchase contract for its 1,200-megawatt wind farm to allow time for the company to renegotiate the price. The ruling leaves the project very much in doubt because Avangrid insists the war in Ukraine, inflation, supply chain issues, and rising interest rates have made it impossible to finance the Commonwealth Wind wind farm . . . Complete story »
Major Massachusetts offshore wind project no longer viable
A major offshore wind project in the Massachusetts pipeline “is no longer viable and would not be able to move forward” under the terms of contracts filed in May. Both developers behind the state’s next two offshore wind projects are asking state regulators to pause review of the contracts for one month amid price increases, supply shortages and interest rate hikes. Utility executives working with assistance from the Baker administration last year chose Avangrid’s roughly 1,200-megawatt Commonwealth Wind project and . . . Complete story »
NOAA scientists propose more protection for right whales in offshore wind area
Letter from fisheries agency proposes turbine-free zone that borders and overlaps wind energy area near Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard. As America’s offshore wind industry gets ready to launch new clean energy projects off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, conservationists and federal scientists have communicated worries over how the installations could harm the endangered North Atlantic right whale, now numbering an estimated 340. In light of these potential threats, a federal scientist proposed a “conservation buffer” zone – or area of no . . . Complete story »
The great US offshore wind-power boom has begun to falter
Plans for massive offshore wind farms that President Joe Biden hopes will power as many as 10 million American homes by 2030 are starting to wobble. On Monday, New Jersey utility Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. said it’s deciding whether to pull out of Ocean Wind 1, a proposed project in the Atlantic Ocean that would generate 1.1 gigawatts – enough for 500,000 homes. Less than two weeks earlier, New England utility Avangrid Inc. said its similarly sized Commonwealth Wind project . . . Complete story »
Second wind turbine razed, marking end of Falmouth renewable energy project
The second Falmouth wind turbine came crashing down on Wednesday morning. The boom from the crash sounded like thunder. There were very few onlookers. The town did not share information about the date and time of the demolition publicly to avoid having a large crowd gather, according to Peter Johnson-Staub, who is the acting town manager. Barry Funfar, who lives about 1,500 feet from the turbine, was able to watch the structure come down from his rooftop deck. Although Funfar . . . Complete story »
Two Falmouth wind turbines sparked a lawsuit; now they’re being demolished
Two land-based wind turbines that drew heavy criticism from their Falmouth neighbors are scheduled to be demolished this week and next. The town-owned turbines, Wind 1 and Wind 2, were installed about a decade ago at the Falmouth wastewater treatment facility. Abutting neighbor Barry Funfar, a Vietnam combat veteran who has post-traumatic stress disorder, said the noise and pulsing-air sensation from the turbines prevented him from being in his garden. “Once these turbines were in, it’s like – it was just . . . Complete story »
Supply chain issues slow development of major Mass. offshore wind farm
Avangrid chief executive Pedro Azagra told investors on Thursday that his company will postpone its Commonwealth Wind and Park City Wind projects planned for south of Martha’s Vineyard by a year and go back to the negotiating table to rewrite contracts for the offshore wind farms because of supply chain issues. The Connecticut-based energy company’s move underscores the challenges New England faces as policymakers try to transition the electric grid to rely more heavily on renewable sources instead of natural . . . Complete story »
Video captures massive wind turbine demolition in Falmouth
Two wind turbines owned by the Town of Falmouth were to be demolished after they were ordered to be taken down following legal action taken by people who live there. Video [at the source] shows the moment one of the turbines was demolished. SKY7HD also captured the massive wind turbine laying on its side after being demolished. The second wind turbine is set to be brought down on Monday, October 3. The two 1.65-megawatt wind turbines were installed in 2010 . . . Complete story »
Big wind farms planned in far Northern Maine could benefit Mass.
The hottest clean-energy contest currently underway in New England doesn’t involve offshore wind farms, at least not this time. Instead of the waters south of Martha’s Vineyard, this race to tap into wind energy is taking shape in the sparsely populated timberlands of Northern Maine. And the state of Massachusetts has suddenly emerged as a key player. Tucked in the back of the clean-energy bill the Legislature approved on July 31 and sent to Governor Charlie Baker for his signature . . . Complete story »
