Vineyard Wind Forms Cable Pact in Connecticut

US offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind has formed a partnership with Marmon Utility for the establishment of manufacturing capabilities at Marmont’s Connecticut facility producing Kerite cables to supply some or all of the inter-array cable cores for the Park City Wind project.

The agreement will go into effect if Vineyard Wind is awarded long-term contracts from Connecticut to provide 800MW or greater of offshore wind power in response to their 2019 solicitation.

Under the planned partnership, Marmon Utility will invest up to USD 4 million to hire personnel and make equipment upgrades in their Kerite power cable facility that will allow the company to manufacture specific offshore inter-array cables needed for the Park City Wind project.

In turn, Vineyard Wind is committed to selecting Kerite cable brand as its preferred cable supplier for at least 50% of the project, which will make Kerite the first American Tier 1 Supplier in offshore wind, the developer said.

“The partnership between Vineyard Wind and Marmon Utility to establish the first American Tier 1 Offshore Wind Supplier in Connecticut is an incredible opportunity for the state to truly develop a world-class offshore wind industry,” said Vineyard Wind CEO Lars Thaaning Pedersen.

“Today’s announcement is an exciting step in the right direction but it is only the beginning. Similar to the aerospace sector, we believe that manufacturers all over the state can be a part of this emerging industry, creating long-term jobs and economic opportunity for Connecticut residents.”

The supply contract would lead to nearly USD 40 million in direct expenditures in Connecticut, while the Seymour facility expansion would create an estimated 35 permanent FTE jobs. Over the next decade, the expanded facility could create up to 350 FTE jobs and almost USD 400 million in direct revenue in Connecticut, Vineyard Wind said.

“Marmon Utility is excited about the opportunity to partner with an innovative company like Vineyard Wind and become the first American Tier 1 Offshore Wind supplier of power cables,” said Angelo Santamaria, President of Marmon Utility, Power Cable.

“A contract of this magnitude will create Connecticut manufacturing jobs, generate economic opportunity, and establish the Marmon Utility and our Kerite brand of power cables in the emerging renewable energy sector for decades to come.”

Vineyard Wind’s Park City Wind proposal includes options to develop an up to 1,200MW project. The project could generate upwards of USD 1.6 billion in direct economic benefits and create as many as 12,000 direct, indirect, and induced full‐time equivalent (FTE) jobs across Connecticut, according to Vineyard Wind.