Iberdrola received approval from Joe Biden’s administration to move forward with the New England Wind offshore wind farm, marking this event as the first authorization of its kind under the current presidential term.
The approval, obtained by Avangrid, the company’s U.S. subsidiary, is a crucial step for the construction of the project, complementing the Construction and Operations Plan Approval (COP) that is expected in July of this year and follows the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) granted in February.
During the WindEurope 2024 event in Bilbao, Ignacio S. Galán, chairman of Iberdrola, shared details about this and other offshore wind energy expansion projects in the United States and Europe.
About the New England Wind offshore wind farm
The project, which puts Iberdrola at the forefront of offshore wind energy in the United States, includes phases New England Wind 1 and New England Wind 2. Located about 30 miles south of Barnstable, Massachusetts, construction of the first phase is expected to begin in 2025, with the goal of being operational before the end of this decade. This will contribute significantly to New England’s 2030 climate goals.
With the capacity to generate approximately 2 gigawatts of clean energy clean energy the New England Wind project promises to supply electricity to nearly one million homes and businesses in the region. This would equate to a reduction of about 4 million tons of carbon dioxide, or the retirement of approximately 700,000 cars per year over the life of the project. In addition, substantial economic benefits are anticipated, including the creation of up to 9,200 full-time skilled jobs and $8 billion in direct investment in the region.
The impact of the project is not limited to renewable energy production; significant boosts to the local economy are also expected through the creation of assembly centers, offshore wind energy training, new offshore crane factories, and operations and maintenance facilities in locations such as Bridgeport, Connecticut and New Bedford.
Iberdrola and offshore wind in the U.S.
The company’s active involvement in the development of offshore wind in the United States, including the Vineyard Wind I farm in Massachusetts (the first of its kind on a commercial scale in the country), along with its recent offshore wind proposals in Massachusetts-Rhode Island-Connecticut, underscores the growing importance of renewables in the U.S. energy strategy.
This trend reflects a commitment to environmental sustainability and economic revitalization through technological innovation and job creation.
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Source: diarioelcanal.com
Photo: shutterstock
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