Massachusetts approves SouthCoast Wind I shore transmission facilities

The SouthCoast Wind 1 offshore wind farm, developed by Ocean Winds, has secured critical approvals from Massachusetts for its onshore transmission facilities at Brayton Point in Somerset. The Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board has granted a construction and operation permit for the facilities, while the Department of Environmental Protection has issued a Chapter 91 Waterways license for nearshore infrastructure. Additionally, the Office of Coastal Zone Management has completed its federal consistency review for the project.

These regulatory milestones position SouthCoast Wind 1 to deliver clean offshore wind power to New England’s electric grid by 2030. The project, set to begin construction in late 2025 pending final permits and investment decisions, will involve a cable route traversing federal and state waters, the Sakonnet River, and Mt Hope Bay, culminating at Brayton Point.

With a capacity to generate 1.08 GW of wind energy for Massachusetts and 200 MW for Rhode Island, SouthCoast Wind 1 marks one of southern New England’s largest energy investments, converting the former coal-fired Brayton Point into a hub for clean energy. The site is also under consideration for an additional 1.2 GW connection within the lease area.