Where Has MA Wind Power Gone?
It’s no secret that MA has some massive power supply issues. High natural gas prices, supply constraints, and demand all help raise Massachusetts electric rates. That’s why the state has looked to offshore wind projects to help pick up the slack. These renewable energy projects could have solved our natural gas dependence and helped with high electricity rates. But a lot has happened to renewable energy in New England. So, let’s review with how things stand in our offshore wind project round up.
New England Wind 1 and 2
These projects are located about 20 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. As of October 3, both are still in pre-construction development. Avangrid is developing this project, which was first approved in July 2024.
- The project could generate up to 1,870 megawatts (MW) of power with up to 129 wind turbines. This is enough to power 1 million homes.
- New England 1 will connect to Barnstable, MA and was set to sell about 791 MW of power to MA. There was no set connection point for the New England 2 project.
Originally, Avangrid planned to start construction this year and begin producing energy in 2029. However, power contract negotiations have stalled, likely due to uncertainty in the off shore wind market. Moreover, the current administration hinted in a court filing that it may reconsider the permit for both projects by vacating the projects’ Construction and Operations Plan (COP). The COP is the last federal permit an offshore wind project needs.
SouthCoast Wind 1 and 2
Ocean Winds develops this project, which is located 20 miles south of Nantucket. It gained federal approval in January 2025. However, it’s currently paused due to the administration’s wind project permitting freeze.
- The project was to use 141 turbines to generate up to 2,400 MW of power.
- SouthCoast Wind 1 would have connected to the grid in Somerset, MA and would have sold 1,287 MW of power to MA and Rhode Island. SouthCoast Wind 2 had no set connection point at this time.
The project can’t move forward until it can acquire the permits it needs. As a result, the project could lose key permits from the end of the Biden administration. On top of that, the administration asked a federal judge for permission to revoke the project’s Construction and Operation Plan.
Vineyard Wind Project
Avangrid and Vineyard Offshore co-develop this project. The project is operating while still under construction. It is located 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and was first approved in May 2021.
- The project uses 62 turbines and now generates up to 400 MW of power. When completed, this project could produce up to 800 MW of power.
- It connects to the grid at Barnstable, MA and sells power to MA.
At present, current administration policies does not affect this project because it has all required permits.
MA Wind Project Future
As we can see, current policies makes for an uncertain future for MA wind projects. Permitting freezes can stop projects like SouthCoast Wind in their tracks. In addition, many states are hesitant to negotiate contracts due growing uncertainty over federal policy and funding. All the same, there is at least some green wind energy coming to MA.
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