Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker has committed the state to invest $100 million into the development of three ports to advance the rapid growth of the offshore wind sector.
He highlighted the success with the start of the Vineyard Wind project as an incentive to accelerate the development of ports and projects in New Bedford, Salem, and Somerset.
“As this offshore wind industry continues to grow, we have to make sure that Massachusetts remains a strong place to build infrastructure that aligns with our goals to be a global leader in this space,” Mr. Baker said, “especially as the cost of projects continues to rise with supply chain delays and this minor thing we call ‘inflation.'”
With work getting underway for the Vineyard Wind project which is expected to be online by the end of 2023, the governor and his officials pointed out that New Bedford’s current marshaling yard is already overloaded with work. New Bedford currently has a 29-acre heavy lift facility designed to support the construction, assembly, and development of offshore wind projects.
“The fact that this is one of the deepest deep-water ports naturally anywhere on the East Coast… that all by itself creates huge opportunities here,” Mr. Baker said in Salem while detailing his plans for a $1.7 billion supplemental budget for Massachusetts. The plan calls for building out the ports and supporting new facilities as the state’s first wind projects get underway as well as with the broader goal of playing a longer-term role as other projects proceed along the U.S. East Coast.
Salem is set to become the state’s second major offshore wind port (per photo) and the governor looks to speed the development with $45 million from his supplemental budget. The money would be used to support the plan for a second major marshaling yard to be located in Salem to initially support the Commonwealth Wind project.
Vineyard Wind and the City of Salem with Crowley Maritime previously entered into an agreement to develop facilities at Salem. Similarly, at New Bedford, Foss Maritime committed to the development of a maritime terminal to support offshore operations. In Somerset, there is a plan to develop the state’s first offshore wind manufacturing facility for subsea transmission cables. (Photo Crowley Maritime)
