Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE: AGR), a prominent sustainable energy company within the Iberdrola Group, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a global leader in green energy investment and offshore wind development through its affiliate Vineyard Offshore, announced today that Vineyard Wind 1 has commenced delivering over 136 Megawatts (MW) of power to the Massachusetts electric grid. This milestone establishes Vineyard Wind 1 as the largest operational offshore wind project in the United States. Currently, 10 turbines are operational, collectively generating enough electricity to power 64,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. The project has installed 47 foundations and transition pieces, with 21 turbines operational and the 22nd currently undergoing installation. Once fully operational, Vineyard Wind 1, located 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard, will encompass 62 turbines and deliver a total capacity of 806 Megawatts, providing clean electricity to approximately 400,000 homes and businesses across New England.
Pedro Azagra, CEO of Avangrid, highlighted the significance of this achievement: “With 10 turbines now operational, Avangrid is supplying clean energy to meet the needs of over 60,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. Our Vineyard Wind 1 project exemplifies the substantial benefits offshore wind offers the New England region, including union job creation, local investment, and clean energy essential for Massachusetts’ increasing electricity demand.”
Vineyard Wind began offshore construction in late 2022, achieving a significant milestone with steel-in-the-water in June 2023 and completing the nation’s first offshore substation by July 2023. The project’s power interconnects to the New England grid in Barnstable, facilitated by underground cables connecting to an inland substation on Cape Cod. The project’s impact extends beyond immediate energy needs, contributing to regional energy security during peak winter demand periods. A 2018 assessment by ISO New England underscores offshore wind’s potential to save ratepayers $40-45 million and prevent over 108,000 metric tons of carbon emissions annually during cold snaps.
From its inception, Vineyard Wind prioritized local workforce development, collaborating closely with union leaders to cultivate a skilled and diverse labor force. This commitment has resulted in the creation of 937 union jobs over two years of construction, significantly exceeding initial projections outlined in the Project Labor Agreement signed in July 2021.
Vineyard Wind 1’s comprehensive benefits include generating savings of $1.4 billion for customers over its first 20 years of operation and an annual reduction of more than 1.6 million metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing 325,000 cars from the road annually.
