With the milestone Record of Decision (ROD) received on Aug. 22, 2023 from the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) for the planned offshore wind project serving Rhode Island and Connecticut, Revolution Wind is scheduled to begin onshore construction activities in the coming weeks, with offshore construction ramping up in 2024. The project is expected to be operational in 2025.
Revolution Wind – a partnership between Ørsted and Eversource to build Rhode Island and Connecticut’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm – will create thousands of direct, indirect, and induced jobs, as well as permanent operations and maintenance jobs across both states. Once complete, the 704-megawatt Revolution Wind will deliver 400 megawatts of clean, affordable offshore wind power to Rhode Island and 304 megawatts of the same to Connecticut, powering more than 350,000 homes across the two states and helping the states reach their ambitious climate goals.
The Revolution Wind lease sites are located approximately 15 miles south of the Rhode Island coast, 32 miles southeast of the Connecticut coast and 12 miles southwest of Martha’s Vineyard.
BOEM’s issuance of the Record of Decision precedes the anticipated approval of Revolution Wind’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP) in November 2023. The COP outlines the detailed construction, operation and maintenance activities of a wind farm, including the responsible decommissioning at end of life, the potential impacts, actions and design alternatives, and the proposed measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate potential impacts from the project.
As part of Revolution Wind, Eversource and Ørsted have already made several local investments, including:
- Committed more than $100 million in direct investment to the State Pier redevelopment project in the Port of New London, transforming the site into a state-of-the-art, heavy-lift marine terminal where Revolution Wind turbines will be staged and assembled, as well as Sunrise Wind. Staging and assembly for South Fork Wind is currently underway at the port.
- Established a regional offshore wind foundation component manufacturing facility at ProvPort, where Revolution Wind components are already being built.
- Partnered with two local shipyards – Blount Boats, in Warren, R.I., and Senesco Marine, in Quonset Point, R.I. – to build five new crew-transfer vessel.
- Invested $1 million to establish a training partnership with the Community College of Rhode Island, the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Rhode Island Commerce, the Rhode Island Building and Construction Trades Council and Building Futures.
- Signed first-ever U.S. offshore wind helicopter agreement for new crew helicopters, including a $1.8 million investment in Quonset State Airport where the helicopters are based and currently supporting South Fork Wind’s construction.
- Collaborated with Waterford, Connecticut-based marine services provider Sea Services North America, and its partner fishermen in Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York to support safe navigation in and around the companies’ Northeast offshore wind farms.
- Contributed $1.25 million to Mystic Aquarium to support critical marine research and wildlife protection as well as educational programming and career resources for women and children.
- Contributed $950,000 to Groton-based Project Oceanology to launch a hands-on, inquiry-based K-12 STEM program focused on climate change, sustainability, energy generation and offshore wind.
- Partnered with Groton, Connecticut-based maritime automation technology developer ThayerMahan to monitor wildlife and seabeds in connection with the Revolution Wind.
Below are comments from officials overseeing the project:
“This significant federal decision reflects a thorough review and assessment of the project’s impacts by BOEM. Now, we may proceed with the project’s construction, heading into 2024 with the goal of being commercially operational in 2025,” said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee. “The Revolution Wind project will play a significant role in advancing the state’s Act on Climate law, growing our clean energy economy, and achieving our 100% renewable energy standard objectives.”
“The extreme weather we’ve experienced this summer underscores the growing dangers and devastating effects of global warming as well as the need for bold solutions to address the climate crisis,” said Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont. “This decision from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which paves the way for Connecticut’s first offshore wind farm, is welcome news for the state’s clean energy goals, and will help improve our environmental health and drive economic growth, particularly in towns along the shoreline where staging and assembly work is occurring.”
“Revolution Wind will be key to Rhode Island and Connecticut’s clean energy future, and we’re grateful for the leadership from the Biden Administration, as well as our state partners and federal delegations, to grow the region’s offshore wind sector,” said David Hardy, Group EVP and CEO Americas at Ørsted. “With the federal Record of Decision, we now advance Revolution Wind to the construction phase, bringing good-paying jobs to hundreds of local union construction workers, keeping local ports busy with assembly and marshaling activities and further growing the local supply chain. We’re excited to get to work building this important project.”
“After years of careful planning, today, we celebrate the beginning of Revolution Wind’s transition from a dream to a reality,” said Joe Nolan Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Eversource Energy. “Having reached this important milestone, in the coming weeks we will begin onshore construction on this critical clean energy project, which will produce enough renewable energy to power more than 350,000 homes in Rhode Island and for our customers in Connecticut. We are thrilled to be getting the next phase of this project started, as we continue to deliver on our promise of investing in local communities and creating jobs for workers in the industries of tomorrow, today.”
“Rhode Island’s offshore wind experience offers a national model and is helping to chart the course toward a cleaner energy future,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed. “When it comes to harnessing the power of offshore wind, America must keep pace with global competitors. This innovative project is bringing good-paying jobs and clean energy benefits for generations of Rhode Islanders, with a goal of protecting the environment and reducing long-term energy costs.”
“This milestone is an encouraging step toward Rhode Island’s 100 percent renewable electricity future,” said U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse. “I applaud the Revolution Wind team for their commitment to bringing offshore wind online and for their continued investment in the Ocean State’s economy and long-term success.”
“Offshore wind can lower the cost of electricity for working people, create good jobs, reduce dependence on foreign oil, and lower emissions,” said U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner. “I am pleased that after a thoughtful process, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has approved the Revolution Wind project, which will further solidify Rhode Island’s leadership in the transition to affordable clean energy.”
“As we confront the climate crisis, the need for clean energy has never been more urgent and Revolution Wind is making offshore wind a reality for residents of Connecticut,” said U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal. “This project will not only help meet our state’s clean energy goals but will also be a boon to our talented workforce by supporting their good union jobs. I will continue to fight to deliver more federal funding to Connecticut to make our energy infrastructure and communities climate resilient.”
“I recently visited the new State Pier to see the first of several shipments of offshore wind turbine blades for Ørsted and Eversource’s first project unloaded from the cargo ship,” said U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney. “Today’s announcement is another positive step towards cleaner energy and great economic opportunity for Connecticut and the region. Revolution Wind—one of the first projects of its kind in the Northeast U.S.—will directly power Connecticut homes, create good-paying jobs, and significantly reduce carbon-emitting power.”
Ocean Wind Construction Underway
New Jersey’s First Offshore Wind Farm Takes Shape
With a similar clearance received from the BOEM last July 2023, Ocean Wind 1, New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm, remains on track to begin onshore construction activities in the fall of 2023, with offshore construction ramping up in 2024. Ocean Wind 1 will kickstart New Jersey’s role in the American offshore wind industry, powering approximately 500,000 homes with reliable renewable energy when it begins commercial operations in 2025.
Developed by Ørsted, Ocean Wind is an 1,100 MW project located approximately 15 miles off the coast of southern New Jersey.
Since 2019, Ocean Wind 1 has worked diligently to move through the state and federal review process. The BOEM’s issuance of the Record of Decision precedes the anticipated approval of Ocean Wind 1’s Construction and Operations Plan (COP) in September 2023. The COP outlines the detailed construction, operation and maintenance activities of a wind farm, including the responsible decommissioning at end of life, the potential impacts, actions and design alternatives, and the proposed measures to avoid, minimize and mitigate potential impacts from the project.
Ocean Wind 1 will soon move from the development and permitting phase to the construction phase, with onshore activities beginning in the fall 2023, including the project’s onshore underground transmission line and onshore substations.
Offshore installation of the project’s monopile foundations and GE Haliade-X wind turbines is expected to begin in 2024. Monopiles for Ocean Wind 1 are being welded, sandblasted and painted at EEW American Offshore Structures’ facility at the Port of Paulsboro, the first monopile fabrication facility in the U.S. Ørsted has made significant investments in the facility as part of its commitment to building a local, American offshore wind supply chain. New Jersey-based PSEG will support Ocean Wind 1 with construction management, environmental permitting and compliance services for the onshore substations and transmission cable installation scope.
Ørsted, with partner Rowan College of South Jersey, is actively recruiting New Jersey residents to participate in a paid training program to become wind turbine technicians. In addition, hundreds of union workers in New Jersey will support the construction of Ocean Wind 1 and additional projects in the region.
About Ørsted
A global clean energy leader, Ørsted develops, constructs, and operates offshore and land-based wind farms, solar farms, energy storage facilities, and bioenergy plants. Ørsted is the first energy company in the world with a science-based net-zero emissions target as validated by the Science Based Targets initiative.
In the United States, the company has approximately 700 employees and a growing portfolio of clean energy assets and partnerships that includes offshore wind energy, land-based wind energy, solar, storage technologies and e-fuels. A leader across the renewable energy sector in the United States, Ørsted holds the top position in offshore wind energy with approximately 5 gigawatts in development and operates America’s first offshore wind farm, located off the coast of Block Island. Ørsted has a total U.S. land-based capacity of 5 gigawatts across wind, solar, storage technologies and e-fuels. To learn more about the Ørsted U.S. business, visit us.orsted.com or follow the company on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (@ØrstedUS).
About Eversource
Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to approximately 4.3 million customers in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, Eversource is the #1 energy company in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2021 and recognized as one of America’s Most JUST Companies. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 9,300 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.
Guice Offshore Has the Jones Act-Qualified Vessels To Help Meet America’s Offshore Wind Industry Needs
Guice Offshore’s growing fleet of Jones Act-compliant, dynamically positioned offshore supply vessels, mini supply vessels and platform vessels is well positioned to help meet our nation’s wind energy infrastructure installation and service goal deadlines, whether it’s crew transfer, service, cable laying, subsea work like scour protection or equipment transportation.
Guice Offshore vessels are well-maintained, well-manned and feature ample accommodations and sought-after equipment such as A-frames, cranes, winches, moonpools, deck sockets and essentials to facilitate a spectrum of highly specialized offshore projects.
We hold strategic partnerships throughout the United States and maintain our highly capable vessels in accessible locations for quick response to myriad needs of the many specialty industries we serve, including Offshore Wind.
Headquartered in Covington, Louisiana with an operations base in Lafayette, Louisiana and a northeastern Rhode Island office, Guice Offshore operates a 15-vessel fleet of U.S. Flag offshore vessels that includes Subchapter L & I mini supply vessels, multi-purpose and platform vessels in the 150-ft, 170-ft and 205-ft class with DP1 and DP2 certifications.
Guice Offshore operates from coast to coast in North America and select international locales.
Additionally, our subsidiary, GO Marine Services, a catering and offshore labor contractor, supports mission requirements that help minimize mobilization time and expense for Guice Offshore customers with special services like marine riggers, roustabouts and certified protected species observers in compliance with marine mammal regulatory requirements.
For charter inquiries, please contact David Scheyd at david.scheyd@guiceoffshore.com or (985) 273-2769.
