DONG, Deepwater, OffshoreMW to Use New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal

DONG Energy, Deepwater Wind and OffshoreMW have signed a Letter of Intent with the state of Massachusetts to lease the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal as a staging and deployment location for future offshore wind projects.

Through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), the Letter of Intent with the offshore wind developers represents a commitment to a two-year lease at $5.7 million annually to use the terminal as a staging and deployment location for future wind projects.

Governor Charlie Baker, said: “With this agreement, Massachusetts stands to recognize jobs and economic benefits from this emerging sector within the clean energy industry, and will continue to lead the nation in offshore wind development and renewable energy innovation.”

Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, said: “This agreement builds on the historic energy legislation recently signed by our administration, and will help ensure we meet our ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction targets while also creating a stronger economy for the Commonwealth.”

The announcement follows the Baker-Polito Administration’s recent signing of comprehensive energy legislation which requires utilities to competitively solicit and contract for approximately 1,600MW of offshore wind and 1,200MW of other clean energy generation, such as hydropower.

The legislation spurs the development of an emerging offshore wind industry to create jobs and represents the largest commitment by any state in the nation to offshore wind.

Thomas Brostrøm, General Manager of North America, DONG Energy Wind Power US, said: “We already know the benefits that the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal can provide the region and the industry having used it as our mobilization base for the research vessel, The RV Ocean Researcher that sailed from the terminal earlier this month to conduct a geophysical survey in our lease area south of Martha’s Vineyard.”