The Biden administration has greenlighted the first major offshore wind project in federal waters, culminating a review process that saw delays and roadblocks during the Trump administration.
The Interior and Commerce departments authorized the construction of the Vineyard Wind project, an 800-megawatt wind project off the coast of Massachusetts, in a final record of decision on Tuesday. The project could begin delivering power to roughly 400,000 homes on the East Coast in late 2022.
“The approval of this project is an important step toward advancing the Administration’s goals to create good-paying union jobs while combating climate change and powering our nation,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said in a statement.
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The record of decision allows Vineyard Wind to install 84 wind turbines for the facility, and the agencies said the project is expected to create 3,600 jobs in the region. The project will be located about 12 nautical miles off the shores of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
“This is a historic day for clean energy and for our country that has been over a decade in the making,” said Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association. “Today, we launch a brand-new source of homegrown energy for Americans.”
Vineyard Wind’s approval comes after the Biden administration took several steps in late March to support the increased development of offshore wind power, including establishing a goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
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In a news release, the Interior Department said it has begun an environmental review for two other offshore wind projects since President Joe Biden’s inauguration, as well as pursued additional leasing opportunities off the coast of New York and New Jersey.
