Vineyard Wind enters Host Community Agreement with Massachusetts town

Vineyard Wind has announced that it has entered into a Host Community Agreement (HCA) with the Town of Barnstable, located in Cape Cod region of Massachusetts, north-east USA. The agreement has been filed with the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB).

The agreement follows the award and execution of long-term contracts between Vineyard Wind and Massachusetts’ electric distribution companies (EDCs) to construct an 800 MW wind farm in federal waters south of Martha’s Vineyard and approximately 55km south of the Cape Cod mainland. 

The HCA requires Vineyard Wind to make annual payments to the city of at least US$1.534 million each year in combined property taxes and Host Community Payments. The pact guarantees a total Host Community Payment of US$16 million, plus an additional US$60,000 (adjusted for inflation annually), for each year the project is in operation beyond 25 years.  

The HCA also provides opportunity for detailed review of Vineyard Wind’s specifications for a new substation by the city, further ensuring protection of groundwater along with supply of clean energy to over 400,000 Massachusetts homes and businesses.

Pending additional federal and state permitting reviews, as well as consultation with tribal and local agencies, Vineyard Wind plans to begin construction in 2019 and operations by 2021.