Vineyard Wind proposes offshore wind port at Salem Harbor, Massachusetts

Vineyard Wind LLC said on Thursday it has agreed to partner with the City of Salem and Crowley Maritime Corp to make Salem Harbor Massachusetts’ second major offshore wind port.

The agreement is part of the proposal for the Commonwealth Wind project of up to 1,200 MW that Vineyard Wind submitted in Massachusetts’ third offshore wind solicitation and is contingent on the developer securing an award in the tender.

It will see Crowley Maritime buy 42 acres (17 ha) around Salem Harbor Station and serve as the long-term offshore wind port operator for the site that will be used for turbine assembly and staging activities for the Commonwealth Wind project.

Vineyard Wind’s joint venture partners, Avangrid Renewables and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), will serve as the port’s anchor tenants. The joint venture partners recently agreed to restructure Vineyard Wind’s assets, with Avangrid Renewables to become a 100% owner of the Commonwealth Wind project. Avangrid Renewables will be the port site’s first tenant, using it for Commonwealth Wind and future projects, while CIP will be the second tenant employing the site for its future projects.

“By constructing the nation’s first purpose-built offshore wind port in New Bedford, Massachusetts has been leading the way. With a new offshore wind port in Salem, the Commonwealth can ensure that it is ready to face the demands of a rapidly growing industry,” said Vineyard Wind chief executive Lars T Pedersen.

“This partnership is a great example of how sites that once supported coal can be transformed into sustainable infrastructure to support the vital clean energy transition,” said Bill White, Avangrid Renewables offshore wind head.

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