Massachusetts Chambers Encourage Federal Support for Vineyard Wind Project

Sixteen chamber CEOs and executive directors in Massachusetts recently sent a letter to Secretary Bernhardt at the U.S. Department of the Interior in support for Vineyard Wind, a development which was set to be America’s first major offshore wind project. The chambers sent the letter after an unexpected, last minute delay threatened the certainty of this development being built and urged the department to release the final Environmental Impact Statement for Vineyard Wind, as well as issue final permits so that construction can begin.  

The proposed $2.8 billion wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts is expected to create thousands of new jobs and generate approximately $17 million in new state and local tax revenues. “As the first major offshore wind development in the country, Vineyard Wind represents the unlocking of a massive economic driver for our region and beyond. The pursuit of locally sourced energy captured by locally built offshore wind facilities is among the largest economic opportunities ever for our region,” wrote the chamber executives.

About offshore wind: The U.S. has vast offshore wind energy generation potential with estimates that offshore wind could produce more than 2,000 gigawatts of electricity, more than double the nation’s current electricity use. States, particularly along the East Coast are looking to capture the economic benefits of this new industry while delivering clean and reliable electricity to their residents.

Read the letter here.

Read more about Vineyard Wind and the delay of the project