The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management said Monday it is beginning its environmental review of the construction and operations plan for the Vineyard Wind South project.
If approved by the agency, Vineyard Wind would be allowed to construct and operate approximately 2,000 to 2,300-megawatts of wind turbine generation off of Rhode Island and Massachusetts, developed in phases. Phase One of the project, called “Park City Wind,” would contribute to Connecticut’s mandate of 2,000-MW of offshore wind energy by 2030, through Vineyard Wind’s 804-MW power purchase agreement with Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority.
The publication of the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) opens a 30-day public comment period. During this time, BOEM will hold three virtual public scoping meetings and accept comments to inform the preparation of the EIS.
The proposed Vineyard Wind South project includes up to 130 wind turbine generators, two to five offshore substations, inter-array cables, and up to five export cables connecting to the onshore electric grid in Barnstable County, Mass., at up to three onshore substations.
BOEM’s scoping process is intended to identify what should be considered in the EIS. Throughout the scoping process, there will be multiple opportunities to help BOEM determine the important resources and issues, reasonable alternatives, and potential mitigation measures to be analyzed in the EIS.
The 30-day public comment period extends through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on July 30, 2021. BOEM’s virtual scoping meetings will be held at the following dates and times (Eastern):
• Monday, July 19, 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, July 23, 1:00 p.m.
• Monday, July 26, 5:30 p.m.
Registration for the virtual public meetings can be completed here: https://www.boem.gov/Vineyard-Wind-South-Scoping-Virtual-Meetings.
