Precious Brady-Davis, Precious.brady-davis@sierraclub.org
NANTUCKET, MA. – After years of tireless work from grassroots groups, labor unions, and government officials, Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, is officially online. Sierra Club Massachusetts and its Cape Cod group submitted hundreds of pieces of testimony and comment to state legislators, local municipalities, and the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management over the last 15 years to encourage the development of a responsible offshore wind industry in America. Sierra Club applauds the monumental achievement from Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and is excited for our new energy future.
Located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, the project will produce 800 megawatts of electricity, power over 400,000 homes, and reduce carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year. The carbon emissions reductions are equivalent to taking 325,000 cars off the road.
In addition to slashing fossil fuel usage, Vineyard Wind is delivering significant benefits to communities in Massachusetts. Vineyard Wind has already created 937 local union jobs throughout its two-year construction, nearly double what Avangrid and CIP projected. In total, the project has created 1,989 jobs to date, according to a recent report submitted to the Department of Energy Resources. Over the next 30 years, Barnstable, host of the project’s export cable, is projected to realize $44.4 million in direct economic benefits from Vineyard Wind.
In addition to job creation and local revenue, Vineyard Wind will also aid in alleviating high energy costs for Massachusetts families and businesses. Sierra Club has long championed this project that will contribute $3.7 billion in energy-related cost savings after all 62 Turbines come online. The added sustainable energy source will also boost local energy reliability, helping ensure fewer blackouts and power outages in the region.
In response, Sierra Club Massachusetts Acting Director Vick Mohanka issued the following statement:
“Today, we celebrate the connection of our state’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, a groundbreaking achievement for local renewable energy. Vineyard Wind will aid tremendously in reducing dangerous fossil fuel air pollution that threatens the health of our most vulnerable communities. We hope Vineyard Wind’s success is a catalyst for the rapid construction of other offshore wind farms all over the country.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.