wiredinUSA August 2019

Developers of the 800MW Vineyard Wind offshore wind project in the US have been denied a permit for the undersea cables to connect the park tomainlandMassachusetts, and left without a key environmental document. The 84-turbine project secured permits for connection to the regional grid and selected Prysmian SpA to deliver the submarine cable system. However, the Edgartown Conservation Commission has since voted 5-1 to deny the export cables application under the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act. Partners (CIP) and Avangrid Renewables LLC, planned to bury two cables of 400MW each. The commission’s decision was taken due to the expected adverse impact on an area “critical for the protection of marine fisheries, land containing shellfish, storm damage prevention, flood control and protection of wildlife habitat.” Vineyard Wind announced that it had been informed by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) that they were not yet prepared to issue a final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project. “We understand that, as the first commercial scale offshore wind project in the US, the Vineyard Wind project will undergo extraordinary review before receiving approvals,” the developers said. The project has to go through more than 25 federal, state and local approval processes. Vineyard Wind LLC, a 50/50 partnership between Copenhagen Infrastructure

First offshore wind delays

wiredInUSA - August 2019

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