Vineyard Wind requests superseding order to overturn denial of 800 MW wind project off the coast of Massachusetts

Vineyard Wind has announced that it will request a superseding order from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to overturn denial of the project’s application before the Edgartown Conservation Commission.

Vineyard Wind stressed that the project provided the Edgartown Commission with a detailed, comprehensive filing, then responded to all additional requests for information. In addition, the Commission had access to the project’s Construction and Operations Plan, was provided the decommissioning section of the federal draft Environmental Impact Statement, received confirmation that the project would not impact endangered species from the state’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, and received a copy of all documents associated with the Environmental Impact Report certified by the Massachusetts Environmental Protection Act (MEPA) office. The project was approved by the Martha’s Vineyard Commission in May 2019.

Once operational in 2021, the Vineyard Wind project will reduce Massachusetts’ carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year, the equivalent of removing 325,000 cars from state roads.

To date, Vineyard Wind has received permits or approvals from the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), an independent state board responsible for review of proposed large energy facilities, the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act office, the Cape Cod Commission, the Barnstable Conservation Commission, the Martha’s Vineyard Conservation Commission, and the Nantucket Conservation Commission.

The state Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program has also determined that the project will not have an adverse effect on rare, threatened, or endangered species. In April, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved long-term power purchase contracts between Vineyard Wind and Massachusetts’ electric distribution companies (EDCs) for the delivery of clean offshore wind energy. Vineyard Wind has entered into a Host Community Agreement with the Town of Barnstable, and a Community Benefits Agreement with the non-profit energy cooperative Vineyard Power, which serves Martha’s Vineyard. Fishing representatives for the project include the New Bedford Port Authority, the Massachusetts Lobsterman’s Association, and the Martha’s Vineyard Fishermen’s Preservation Trust.