Offshore wind control center planned for New Bedford, according to Vineyard Wind

NEW BEDFORD – An offshore wind control center is planned for the city, Vineyard Wind said in a press release.

Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Avangrid Renewables, a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc., and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners announced that Avangrid Renewables plans to build the wind control center. The proposal is the latest initiative announced as part of the company’s Commonwealth Wind proposal, which was submitted to the state for consideration in September.

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Construction of the facility is expected to create around 20 jobs. Once the facility is operational in 2024, it will create up to a dozen high-skilled, well-paying, long-term jobs that will exist throughout the 25-year lifespan of the project, the statement said.

The development of the center is dependent on the state’s selection of Commonwealth Wind in the most recent round of offshore wind energy tenders.

Commonwealth Wind is a newly proposed offshore wind project subject to the Third Massachusetts Offshore Wind Competitive Solicitation. If awarded, Commonwealth Wind will be developed in an area 22 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard which was designated by the federal government in 2015 following a multi-year process with stakeholders.

The Commonwealth Wind Proposal

Commonwealth Wind can deliver up to 1,200 MW of clean and affordable energy to Massachusetts, power 750,000 homes in Massachusetts, create over 11,000 jobs (FTEs), catalyze hundreds of millions of investments in offshore wind infrastructure and provide substantive commitments to environmental justice communities.

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Inspired by the work of Avangrid Renewable’s National Control Center for Onshore Renewable Assets, the center will be a state-of-the-art facility that will provide remote control for turbines, power service platforms and others. offshore / onshore assets. The center will also serve as a hub for coordination between operations and maintenance (O&M) vessels and organizations like the United States Coast Guard, in addition to being an interface for working with regional transmission organizations like ISO-NE.

City and state officials intervene

“The establishment of an offshore wind control center in New Bedford further strengthens the city’s status as a leader in this industry,” said Bill White, President and CEO Offshore at Avangrid Renewables, in the statement. . “The facility anchors Avangrid Renewables long-term operations and maintenance operations in New Bedford as we expand our offshore wind portfolio and help launch a new industry. We look forward to working with city, state and community leaders and remain committed to creating meaningful opportunities for local residents to be a part of this growing industry. ”

“We are delighted to continue to build on the tremendous work that so many people in the city and state have done to make New Bedford synonymous with offshore wind,” said Lars T. Pedersen, CEO of Vineyard Wind , in the press release. “From the recently announced partnership with Semco Maritime to the establishment of this control center, the City of New Bedford is increasingly becoming a crucial part of the DNA of this industry. If the Commonwealth Wind proposal is selected by the state, this facility will create jobs that will last a generation or more, creating opportunities for people who can help families build better lives.

“If an operations control center were established here, it would help solidify New Bedford’s status as the center of an offshore wind cluster,” New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said in the statement. “Avangrid Renewables is an international leader in wind energy, and a long-term commitment to New Bedford would be welcome. ”

“New Bedford is the emerging epicenter of an offshore wind industry that will generate profitable and sustainable energy for the entire Commonwealth,” Senator Mark Montigny said in the statement. “There is simply no better place to centralize operations than in a powerful seaport located just outside of wind concession areas. I appreciate the investment offered by Vineyard Wind in the city and look forward to the rapid progress of this new emerging industry.

“If approved, the construction of this new offshore wind control center would be good news for New Bedford, bringing new, well-paying jobs to the community and strengthening New Bedford’s place as a leader in the industry. development of offshore wind ”, said representative Antonio Cabral in“ To reap the full benefits of offshore wind requires the commitment and cooperation of many different stakeholders, and this proposed center will play an important role in expanding opportunities for collaboration and increasing economic benefits for New Bedford and the region. ”

“This recent development is further evidence of the ripple effect of wind and offshore energy on our economy,” Representative Paul A. Schmid III said in the press release.

“The announcement of an offshore wind turbine control center in New Bedford demonstrates the city’s continued commitment to building clean energy infrastructure right here on the South Coast,” said Representative Christopher M. Markey in the Press release. “The long-term, well-paying job creation that will result from the project proves that not only is this a big step for our environment, but also for our economy.