Vineyard Wind Moves Through the System

The Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office has advanced its environmental review of the proposed Vineyard Wind Connector transmission project by issuing a certificate regarding the project’s Environmental Notification Form (ENF).

Following the issuance of the MEPA certificate, Vineyard Wind’s advanced permitting standing, which calls for in-state construction beginning in 2019, moves forward to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (DEIR), the developer said. The DEIR is expected to be issued later this spring and will be the subject of additional public and regulator comment.

“We look forward to working collaboratively with local agencies and officials, the Wampanoag tribes, local, state and national environmental groups, fishermen, residents and other stakeholders in preparing the Draft Environmental Impact Report, which we plan to submit this Spring. Based on a preliminary review of the ENF Certificate, we remain confident that we will address all concerns regarding short-term impacts associated with construction of the Vineyard Wind Connector while demonstrating that there will be no significant long-term impacts to the local environment,” said Erich Stephens, Chief Development Officer for Vineyard Wind.

The ongoing state and local regulatory review of the Vineyard Wind Connector project, a buried and submarine electric transmission project which will provide grid connection for offshore wind turbines located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, will be undertaken by a number of state and local agencies and boards in addition to the MEPA review.

In addition to MEPA review, all or specific aspects of the entire Vineyard Wind project will face public review through over 25 federal, state, and local approval processes.

The Vineyard Wind offshore wind turbine array will be located in the federal waters approximately 34 miles south of the Cape Cod mainland.