The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced the approval of the Construction and Operations Plan for the SouthCoast Wind Project. Located about 26 nautical miles (nm) south of Martha's Vineyard and 20 nm south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the SouthCoast Wind Project will be able to generate up to 2.4 GW of offshore wind energy for Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein, expressed optimism regarding the final approval of the SouthCoast Wind project, “the eleventh commercial-scale offshore wind project in the country, which will supply power to over 840,000 homes,” she stated.

“Under the Biden-Harris administration, we have made significant strides in advancing a clean energy economy, including the approval of more than 19 GW of offshore wind energy. Our offshore wind projects are opening doors to major economic opportunities by creating jobs, driving economic growth, and combating climate change,” Klein concluded.

The approved project includes the construction of up to 141 wind turbine generators and up to five offshore substation platforms located in a maximum of 143 positions, and up to eight export cables located in up to two corridors, which could come ashore at Brayton Point or Falmouth, Massachusetts.

According to BOEM, compared to the originally proposed SouthCoast project, the selected alternative removes six turbine positions in the northeast part of the lease area to reduce potential impacts on feeding habitat and avoid potential wildlife displacement.

Before making this decision, BOEM considered comments from tribal nations, government agencies, ocean users, and other stakeholders. The comments led to the necessary measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any potential impacts of the project on marine life and other important ocean uses, such as fishing.

In addition to the approval of the first 11 commercial-scale offshore wind projects in the country, BOEM has held six offshore wind lease auctions since 2022, including a record sale in New York Bay and the first sales offshore on the Pacific Coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf of Maine.

The Department has also taken steps to grow a sustainable offshore wind industry by promoting the use of labor agreements for projects, strengthening workforce training, boosting a domestic supply chain, and through increased engagement with tribes, fisheries, underserved communities, and ocean users.