Cape Wind has entered into a two-year lease agreement with MassCEC to stage the first U.S. offshore wind project at the South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal. 

On September 12, 2014, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick announced a lease agreement between Cape Wind and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) to stage the first U.S. offshore wind project from the South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal on New Bedford harbor.  Under the two-year lease agreement, Cape Wind will pay MassCEC $4.5M to use the 28-acre terminal and is expected to begin operations in January 2015.  The lease terms allow for two one-year extensions.

The South Coast Marine Terminal – the first of its kind in North America – is protected by the hurricane barrier and has been designed to sustain heavy loads associated with offshore wind projects, including some of the world’s largest cranes.  More than 21 acres of the terminal’s main site can sustain uniform loads of 4,100 pounds per square foot and concentrated loads of up to 20,485 pounds per square foot.  The design allows mobility of heavy cranes throughout the site, increases efficiency, and provides logistical flexibility for operators.

MassCEC launched the South Coast Marine Commerce Terminal project in April 2013.  The project construction is scheduled for completion in December 2014.  Cape Wind has announced that it will file a request for modification of its Constructions and Operations Plan with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to allow deployment of the Cape Wind project at the terminal.

The Department of Energy (DOE) estimates the offshore wind industry to create 43,000 jobs by 2030 and Massachusetts is primed for a significant share with its first-to-market position.  It estimates the approximately 742,000-acre zone offshore Massachusetts – the largest federal offshore wind planning area – to generate 4,000 MW to 5,000 MW of clean power.  BOEM has scheduled to auction the zone for commercial wind energy leasing in December.

Originally published by EnerKnol.

Founded in 2011, EnerKnol provides U.S. energy policy research and data services to support investment decisions across all sectors of the energy industry. Headquartered in New York City, EnerKnol is proud to be a NYC ACRE company.