Eversource, Avangrid mark completion of grid upgrade on Cape Cod
Officials from Avangrid and Eversource were on hand this week to commemorate the completion of the Cape Cod Solution Phase 1 grid upgrade in Bourne, Mass. by participating in a ribbon cutting ceremony.
The grid update is part of the New England Wind 1 offshore wind project, allowing for the interconnection of offshore wind.
This multi-phase transmission program involved several components, including the expansion of Eversource’s West Barnstable substation and the installation of an approximately 12.5-mile transmission line. These lines are built with future electric and clean energy interconnection needs in mind, initially operating at 115 kV to immediately enhance service reliability for customers with the capability to increase capacity to 345 kV for the interconnection of clean energy from offshore wind farms as they come online.
It will improve electric reliability both efficiently and cost-effectively on Cape Cod and makes the transmission system more resilient to increasingly extreme weather caused by climate change.
“The Cape Cod Solution will deliver significant reliability and clean energy benefits to our customers, and we are excited to announce that the first phase of this groundbreaking project has been completed on time and on budget,” said Eversource President of Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects Bill Quinlan. “In addition to building a more reliable and resilient transmission system in an area known for its vulnerability to severe weather, this project also establishes a strong foundation for interconnecting more clean energy resources to the electric grid. This approach underscores our commitment to minimizing impacts to the environment and surrounding communities as we support the clean energy transition through our industry-leading infrastructure projects,” Bill Quinlan, Eversource president of transmission and offshore wind projects, said at the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Avangrid, which is developing New England Wind 1, provided more than $13.7 million in funding for grid upgrades through the Transmission Support Agreement and Large Generator Interconnection Agreement with Eversource.
“As the most advanced offshore wind opportunity in the region, New England Wind 1 is already delivering significant benefits by supporting critical grid upgrades on Cape Cod that will not only provide a transmission backbone for the project, but deliver a more reliable and resilient electric system,” Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said. “Our experience constructing Vineyard Wind 1 makes clear how important it is to have the onshore infrastructure in place to deliver the clean power from offshore wind. The completion of these Cape Cod Solution Phase 1 upgrades, along with future investments through our Transmission Support Agreement, moves New England Wind 1 even closer to delivering power before the end of the decade.”
As additional phases of the Cape Cod Solution proceed in the years ahead, Eversource will continue making transmission system upgrades to existing equipment and substations. The Cape Cod Solution will be a cornerstone of the regional transmission system, delivering offshore wind-generated power to Massachusetts and the rest of New England.
Phase I of the Cape Cod Solution supported approximately 125 full-time employees and over 300 total employees, including members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Locals 104 & 223, Utility Workers Union of America (UWUA) Local 369 and Members of the Massachusetts Building Trades Council.
New England Wind 1 is located 30 miles south of Barnstable, with energy making landfall under the Craigville Beach parking lot. The project will border Vineyard Wind 1 to the south.
