The company signed a Letter of Intent with Massachusetts in September of 2016 to lease the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal as a staging and deployment location for the Revolution Wind and future wind projects.
The company’s plans to use the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal and other facilities in the City are seen by some as a way to jumpstart the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts.
Operated by MassCEC, the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is a multi-purpose, 26-acre facility designed to support the construction, assembly and deployment of offshore wind projects, as well as handle bulk, break-bulk, container and large specialty marine cargo.
Deepwater Wind will build Revolution Wind in the company’s federal lease site off the coast of Massachusetts. The site is located 30 miles from the mainland and about 15 miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard.
Deepwater Wind will be the first offshore wind company to use the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal for significant construction and staging operations – creating approximately 700 direct regional construction jobs to complete the first 144 MWs, if its Revolution Wind project proposal is approved in January.
“This is just the start of the regional economic benefits generated from Deepwater Wind’s projects. Revolution Wind will occupy just 20 percent of our site. As we build future projects in the site, we’ll create many more jobs in the region,” said Jeffrey Grybowski, Deepwater Wind’s Chief Executive Officer.
During its use of port facilities, the Revolution Wind project will pay $5.5 million in annual fees to the state and $500,000 annually to the City of New Bedford.
If approved by the Massachusetts utilities, the Revolution Wind project is anticipated to generate approximately $250 million in direct and indirect regional economic activity.
“Our leadership in the Southcoast delegation ensured significant procurement of renewable offshore wind, utilizing New Bedford as the main port,” said State Senator Mark C. Montigny (D-New Bedford), who authored key amendments during the 2016 energy debate to ensure stable and consistent offshore wind procurements. “
Deepwater Wind proposed the 144 MW, 24 turbine Revolution Wind farm – paired with a 40MWh battery storage system provided by Tesla – in response to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ request for proposals for new sources of clean energy in Section 83D of the Act to Promote Energy Diversity. Deepwater Wind also provided alternative bids for a larger 288 MW version of Revolution Wind and a smaller 96 MW version.
Utilities and state regulators are expected to make a decision in January, 2018, on the Revolution Wind proposal. If approved, local construction work on the project would begin in 2022, with the facility in operation in 2023. Survey work is already underway at Deepwater Wind’s lease area.
When completed, Revolution Wind will be the largest combined offshore wind and energy storage project in the world. This offshore wind-batter storage pairing will deliver renewable energy – backed up with energy storage – during the times when the grid needs it most.
“New Bedford has worked hard to position itself as the leading American port for the emerging offshore wind industry,” said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell. “State support is essential to our efforts, and so we are grateful for Governor Baker’s commitment to maximize the value of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal, which will soon serve as the industry’s launching pad.”
