DONG Energy Teams With Eversource Energy To Develop Massive US Offshore Wind Farm

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Danish offshore wind energy giant DONG Energy has teamed with New England transmission builder Eversource Energy in proposing a massive offshore wind project for US waters which has the potential to be at least 2 gigawatts (GW) in size.

Announced on Wednesday, DONG Energy revealed that it was teaming up with Eversource Energy in a 50/50 joint-venture to develop Bay State Wind, a proposed offshore wind farm located approximately 15 to 20 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard in an area that has the potential to develop at least 2,000 megawatts (MW) of electricity. DONG Energy secured the rights to a 300 square mile area of ocean 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard in a lease from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management — this appears, according to DONG Energy’s press release, to be the same location it is looking to develop the Bay State Wind project.

The development of offshore wind in the region off the coast of New England has been supported by an energy bill which was passed through the Massachusetts House and Senate earlier this year which required state utilities to source 1.6 GW of offshore wind power by 2027. Stemming out of this mandate, the first state-led procurement process will begin in June 2017, a process DONG Energy and Eversource are hoping to be a part of for the development of Bay State Wind.

“Offshore wind has great potential in the US, and I am very pleased that we are entering into a strategic partnership with Eversource to develop our first project in New England,” said Samuel Leupold, EVP and CEO of DONG Energy Wind Power. “Offshore wind will add to the diversity, and the security, of Massachusetts’ energy mix.”

“New England is setting the pace for a national clean energy future with its proven track record in energy efficiency and bold clean energy goals,” said Jim Judge, President and CEO of Eversource Energy.  “Our partnership with DONG Energy on Bay State Wind represents a significant opportunity to help make those goals a reality and we look forward to delivering this renewable and reliable source of power to customers.”