Report: AVANGRID added 831 MW to wind generation fleet in 2019

According to a 2019 Sustainability Report released this week, AVANGRID, Inc. expanded its role as the third-largest wind operator in the United States through the addition of 831 megawatts of new wind projects last year.

In all, AVANGRID produced 17,479 gigawatt-hours of electricity last year through wind and solar sources, a figure the company says allowed customers to evade 12.3 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The company has prepared for 700 MW of additional onshore wind projects to be constructed and 366 MW of wind repowering projects for 2020. The company also has a stated goal of reducing CO2 emissions by 25 percent by the end of 2020, followed by a push to reach carbon neutral as of 2035.

“I see reason for optimism,” James Torgerson, AVANGRID CEO, said. “Although our world is changing, we remain committed to our vision of building a cleaner, smarter energy future. From Fortune 500 companies pledging to go carbon-neutral to families seeking to take control over their energy use, our customers understand what’s at stake — and they’re not waiting for policymakers to set the rules and boundaries. They expect us to lead the way.”

Throughout the crisis, AVANGRID and the Avangrid Foundation have pledged more than $2 million toward relief and recovery efforts, through partners dedicated to emergency response and community support. Like many utilities, it has also suspended shut-offs for nonpayment and late payment penalties during the pandemic.

To date, the company boasts a renewable fleet with a 90 percent emissions-free generation capacity. It is also planning the Vineyard Wind project off the shores of Massachusetts, the 804 MW Park City Wind project for offshore efforts along Connecticut, and the New England Clean Energy Connect Transmission Project, which seeks to draw 1,200 MW of hydropower from Québec onto the New England power grid.