Revolution Wind Receives Final Approval from U.S. Department of the Interior
Offshore Construction on the First Utility-Scale Offshore Wind Farm for
Rhode Island and Connecticut Slated to Begin in 2024
RHODE ISLAND / CONNECTICUT – November 20, 2023 – Revolution Wind has received approval of the project’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP) from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which is the final decision needed from the agency to move the project toward the start of offshore construction.
The first utility-scale offshore wind farm serving Rhode Island and Connecticut, Revolution Wind will deliver 400 megawatts of clean, affordable offshore wind power to Rhode Island and 304 megawatts of the same to Connecticut, powering more than 350,000 homes across the two states and helping the states reach their ambitious climate goals.
Revolution Wind will create thousands of direct, indirect, and induced jobs, as well as permanent operations and maintenance jobs across both states. Roughly100 local union workers are already involved in the project’s onshore transmission system construction.
“This is a significant win for Rhode Island, marking an important milestone in our efforts to advance the state’s clean energy future and grow our already thriving blue economy,” said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee. “Revolution Wind will be essential to advancing the state’s 100% renewable energy standard by 2033 and achieving our Act on Climate objectives. We look forward to seeing offshore construction and installation activity beginning in 2024.”
“This is yet another positive development that gets us closer to Connecticut’s first offshore wind farm,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. “Wind power remains a key part of our clean energy strategy and ensuring we provide families and businesses with clean, reliable and affordable power."
Revolution Wind’s onshore construction activities are already well underway, with offshore construction ramping up in 2024. The project is expected to be operational in 2025.
“Revolution Wind is putting Rhode Island and Connecticut closer to a clean energy future, thanks in large part to leadership from the Biden Administration and our state partners,” said David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas at Ørsted. “Revolution Wind will not only advance the states’ climate goals, it will also deliver even more good-paying, local union jobs and build upon the investments we’re already making in Rhode Island, in Connecticut and across the U.S. supply chain. With this final Department of Interior approval, we look forward to a busy year of construction building American clean energy for Rhode Island and Connecticut.”
“We’re grateful to receive from BOEM the final approval for Revolution Wind, a project that will transform Connecticut and Rhode Island’s energy system,” said Joe Nolan, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Eversource Energy. “Our team is already working hard on the onshore transmission system for this critical clean energy project, which will produce enough renewable energy to power more than 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and for our customers in Connecticut. We thank the Biden Administration and our state partners for their commitment to the clean energy economy.”
The COP approval outlines the project’s one nautical mile turbine spacing, the requirements on the construction methodology for all work occurring in federal ocean waters, and mitigation measures to protect marine habitats and species. BOEM’s final approval of the COP follows the agency’s August 2023 issuance of its Record of Decision, which concluded the thorough BOEM-led environmental review of the project. Ørsted and Eversource reached these provisions and protections working closely with a range of external organizations and experts, a commitment the companies carry to all stakeholder relationships to help ensure coexistence.
“Rhode Island’s leadership in offshore wind offers up a national model to help strengthen American energy independence and boost our competitiveness in the race toward a cleaner energy future,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. “Clean energy infrastructure projects bring good-paying jobs and environmental benefits and will help to reduce long-term energy costs for Rhode Islanders.”
“Rhode Island’s leadership on offshore wind created a blueprint that is now being scaled up with Revolution Wind,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “BOEM’s approval means the project can get underway, creating well-paying jobs and powering Ocean State homes and businesses with reliable, affordable clean energy.”
“Rhode Island is a leader in offshore wind, which has created good-paying union jobs and will lower the cost of energy for working people in our state,” said U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner.“ I am pleased that, after a thoughtful and comprehensive process, Revolution Wind has received the final approval it needs to proceed with construction and take a significant step toward achieving our state’s goal of achieving 100% power from renewable energy by 2033.”
“The Ocean State is moving forward as a leader in offshore wind with today’s fantastic announcement that will help our state and country meet our clean energy goals and support good-paying, union jobs,” said U.S. Representative Gabe Amo. “I applaud the Biden Administration and our state for supporting Revolution Wind to power our homes in Rhode Island with affordable clean energy. Rhode Islanders should be excited that we are heading towards a more sustainable future.”
“Today’s announcement is a big step forward for Revolution Wind and great news for the future of Connecticut’s offshore wind industry,” said U.S. Senator Chris Murphy. “This project is going to be a major job creator and has the potential to power thousands of homes in our state with clean, affordable energy. Offshore wind is key to reaching our climate goals, and I am continuing to push for increased federal support for these kinds of projects in Connecticut.”
“Today’s final federal approval from the Biden Administration clears the way for the first direct infusion of carbon-free energy via offshore wind into Connecticut and the region,” said U.S. Representative Joe Courtney. “The Revolution Wind project will generate 304 megawatts to directly power Connecticut homes and create hundreds of good-paying jobs at the State Pier in New London.”
“This final federal approval is a significant, job-creating milestone for Revolution Wind and further evidence that Rhode Island is continuing to build upon its national leadership position in America’s offshore wind industry,” said Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Liz Tanner. “Since building the nation’s first offshore wind farm off the coast of Block Island, Rhode Island-based companies and skilled workers across the state have proven to the world that we are ready to do the work to create economic opportunities in this sector and chart a path toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy future. We congratulate the teams at Ørsted and Eversource and look forward to the launch of offshore construction operations.”
“Final approval from BOEM is a welcomed announcement,” said Paul Lavoie, Connecticut’s Chief Manufacturing Officer, and Board Chair of the Connecticut Wind Collaborative. “The State of Connecticut has been working closely with Eversource, Ørsted and the State of Rhode Island on collaborating on the development of infrastructure, jobs and economic growth for the region and we are looking forward to accelerating the implementation of the Revolution Wind project and ensuring that Connecticut is a leader in climate mitigation and clean energy production.”
As part of Revolution Wind, Eversource and Ørsted have already made several local investments, including:
- Committed more than $100 million in direct investment to the State Pier redevelopment project in the Port of New London, transforming the site into a state-of-the-art, heavy-lift marine terminal where Revolution Wind turbines will be staged and assembled. Staging and assembly for South Fork Wind is currently underway at the port.
- Established a regional offshore wind foundation component manufacturing facility at ProvPort, where Revolution Wind components are already being built.
- Signed New England contractor BOND Civil & Utility Construction as the general contractor for the onshore construction scope of the project. This work is employing 100 union workers under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Rhode Island building and construction trades.
- Partnered with two local shipyards – Blount Boats, in Warren, R.I., and Senesco Marine, in Quonset Point, R.I. – to build five new crew-transfer vessels.
- Invested $1 million to establish a training partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Rhode Island Commerce, the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council and Building Futures.
- Signed first-ever U.S. offshore wind helicopter agreement for new crew helicopters, including a $1.8 million investment in Quonset State Airport where the helicopters are based and currently supporting South Fork Wind's construction.
- Collaborated with Waterford, Connecticut-based marine services provider Sea Services North America, and its partner fishermen in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York to support safe navigation in and around the companies' Northeast offshore wind farms.
- Contributed $1.25 million to Mystic Aquarium to support critical marine research and wildlife protection as well as educational programming and career resources for women and children.
- Contributed $1.25 million to UConn Avery Point to support a collaborative, multi-year fisheries research program to study further the relationship between offshore wind farms and marine life.
- Contributed $950,000 to Groton-based Project Oceanology to launch a hands-on, inquiry-based K-12 STEM program focused on climate change, sustainability, energy generation and offshore wind.
- Partnered with Groton, Connecticut-based maritime automation technology developer ThayerMahan to monitor wildlife and seabeds in connection with the Revolution Wind.
About Ørsted
A global clean energy leader, Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and land-based wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants. Ørsted is the first energy company in the world with a science-based net-zero emissions target as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
In the United States, the company has approximately 700 employees and a growing portfolio of clean energy assets and partnerships that includes offshore wind energy, land-based wind energy, solar, storage technologies and e-fuels. A leader across the renewable energy sector in the United States, Ørsted holds the top position in offshore wind energy with approximately 5 gigawatts in development and operates America’s first offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Block Island. Ørsted has a total U.S. land-based capacity of 5 gigawatts across wind, solar, storage technologies and e-fuels. To learn more about the Ørsted U.S. business, visit us.orsted.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ØrstedUS).
About Eversource
Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2023 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.4 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,900 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
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