Avangrid signs labor agreement to begin construction on Vineyard Wind project

The Vineyard Wind offshore wind project in Massachusetts has entered into a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) with the Massachusetts Building Trades and local union affiliates to start construction.

With this agreement, construction is expected to start later this year on Vineyard Wind 1, an 800 megawatt (MW) offshore wind project, the nation’s first built at a commercial scale.

“We are proud to work with organized labor to make history by building the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind 1,” Dennis Arriola, CEO of Avangrid, which owns the Vineyard Wind project, said. “The PLA is a triple-win for workers, our communities and industry and sets a strong precedent as we build the offshore wind energy infrastructure in the U.S. Investing in the workforce that will build the clean and connected future creates strong, sustainable communities and will enable the long-term growth and success of the offshore wind industry in this country.”

The agreement ensures fair wages and thorough workplace protections for the workers constructing Vineyard Wind 1.

The American Clean Power Association (ACP) applauded Avangrid’s agreement with the Massachusetts Building trades.

“This agreement is another victory for the growing offshore wind industry in the United States as we develop projects and create thousands of good-paying union jobs. As part of the Biden administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, Vineyard Wind is the first utility-scale offshore wind farm in the country, and this agreement will create employment opportunities across the region. With programs to hire women and residents in underserved communities, unions play a key role in preparing the highly skilled labor force for our growing industry needs. As our country continues to recover from the pandemic, projects like this will help deliver vast amounts of clean energy and boost job growth across the country,” Heather Zichal, CEO of the American Clean Power Association, said.