The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has granted final approval for the SouthCoast Wind Project, a major offshore wind initiative expected to generate up to 2.4 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This marks the 11th commercial-scale offshore wind project approved under the Biden administration, which has emphasized clean energy expansion.
“The approval of the SouthCoast Wind Project today demonstrates the strength of our collaborative process to deploy offshore wind,” said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.
The project, located approximately 26 nautical miles south of Martha's Vineyard and 20 nautical miles south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, spans 127,388 acres. Plans include up to 141 wind turbines, five offshore substations, and as many as eight export cables connecting to landfall sites at Brayton Point or Falmouth, Massachusetts.
BOEM adjusted the original project proposal by removing six turbines from the northeastern portion of the area to mitigate potential impacts on wildlife habitats near the Nantucket Shoals.
“As we mark this achievement, we look forward to the meaningful economic opportunities the SouthCoast Wind Project will bring to this region, both during construction and throughout the project's lifetime,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said.
The project has secured power purchase agreements (PPAs) for its initial phase, with Massachusetts contracting for 1,087 megawatts (MW) and Rhode Island committing to 200 MW. Construction and operations are expected to provide significant economic benefits to the region, reinforcing the Biden administration's push for renewable energy adoption and job creation.
