Avangrid and CIP's Vineyard Wind 1 Project: Milestone in US Offshore Wind Energy
Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a prominent sustainable energy company and part of the Iberdrola Group, along with Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a leader in green energy investment, has announced that the Vineyard Wind 1 project is now delivering over 136 Megawatts (MW) to the electric grid in Massachusetts. This achievement marks Vineyard Wind 1 as the largest operating offshore wind project in the United States. With 10 turbines currently in operation, totaling approximately 136 MW, the project generates enough power to supply 64,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts.
As of now, Vineyard Wind 1 has installed 47 foundations and transition pieces and 21 turbines, with the installation of the 22nd turbine in progress. Upon full completion, the project will consist of 62 wind turbines, generating 806 MW of clean electricity, sufficient to power 400,000 homes and businesses, making it the largest renewable energy facility in New England.
Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid, highlighted the significant impact of the project, noting that it provides substantial benefits such as well-paying union jobs, local investment, and clean energy to meet Massachusetts’ growing electricity demand. Since February 2024, the project has been progressively delivering power to the grid, starting with 68 MW from five turbines, and continuing to add capacity as more turbines complete their commissioning process.
The power generated by Vineyard Wind 1 is connected to the New England grid in Barnstable through underground cables linking to a substation on Cape Cod. Offshore wind energy, particularly significant in the Northeast region, is crucial for meeting New England’s winter peak demand. An ISO New England assessment in 2018 indicated that 800 MW of offshore wind could have saved ratepayers $40-45 million and reduced carbon emissions by over 108,000 metric tons during a two-week cold snap.
From the beginning, Vineyard Wind has prioritized the inclusion of local, skilled, and diverse tradespeople. The project’s collaboration with union leadership has ensured the creation of accessible and sustainable careers within the community. Offshore construction began in late 2022, with significant milestones such as achieving steel-in-the-water in June 2023 and completing the nation’s first offshore substation in July 2023. The construction operations are based at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal.
Vineyard Wind’s commitment to workforce development is evident in its Project Labor Agreement signed in July 2021, which initially aimed to create 500 union jobs. By December 2023, the project had nearly doubled this commitment, creating 937 union jobs over two years of construction.
Located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, the Vineyard Wind project will not only generate electricity for over 400,000 homes and businesses but also create 3,600 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) job years. The project is expected to save customers $1.4 billion over its first 20 years and significantly reduce carbon emissions by over 1.6 million metric tons annually, equivalent to removing 325,000 cars from the road each year.