Massachusetts Gov. Healey tours Vineyard Wind facilities

Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey toured the operations and maintenance facilities for the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind project on Martha’s Vineyard.

Healey was joined on the tour by representatives from the developers of the project, Avangrid and Copenhagen Industry Partners.

The 806-megawatt Vineyard Wind 1 project is located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, It will generate electricity for more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, save customers $1.4 billion over the first 20 years of operation, and reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million metric tons per year.

The facilities that Healey toured will provide support services for the windfarm once it’s operational, creating 90 jobs.

“Governor Healey is a steadfast champion for clean energy, climate action, and historic Massachusetts communities like Martha’s Vineyard, so Avangrid was proud to join the Governor to tour the critical facilities that will serve as the base of operations for our first-in-the-nation Vineyard Wind 1 project,” Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said. “Locating our O&M headquarters in Vineyard Haven is a reflection the island’s proud history, as well as the important role this community will play in pioneering Massachusetts’ clean energy future. Avangrid looks forward to leading the operations and maintenance services for this first-in-the-nation project once it achieves commercial operations and strengthening our bonds in the Martha’s Vineyard community for decades to come.”

Avangrid is responsible for overseeing the operation and management of the facility once construction is complete and commercial operations begin.

The O&M service building, located on Beach Road near the port, includes warehouse, storage, and office space. It is elevated 10 feet above street level standing on steel piles, providing flood resiliency as well as parking. The building will also feature solar panels, electric vehicle charging stations and bike parking.

Further, Vineyard Wind constructed a hangar at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport to house a helicopter that will service the project.

Vineyard Wind began offshore construction in late 2022, achieved steel-in-the-water in June 2023, and completed the nation’s first offshore substation in July 2023.