Vineyard Wind receives favourable Record of Decision

The US Department of the Interior (DOI) and the Department of Commerce have approved Vineyard Wind’s construction and operations plan (COP) – setting the stage for the 800 MW offshore wind project to become the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the United States.

The Record of Decision (ROD) adopts mitigation measures to help avoid, minimize, reduce, or eliminate adverse environmental effects that could result from the construction and operation of the proposed project. These mitigation, monitoring, and reporting requirements were developed through input, consultation, and coordination with stakeholders, tribes, and federal and state agencies.

The ROD is jointly signed by and addresses permitting decisions by BOEM, US Army Corps of Engineers, and the National Marine Fisheries Service within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The announcement heralds the beginning of a new era for the emerging US offshore wind industry.

“This decision is a blueprint for how offshore wind developers can partner with the Biden Administration,” says Doug Pfeister, RCG’s Managing Director – Americas. “Approval of this project represents an important step forward for the entire US offshore wind industry. All developers want predictability – and the lessons learned from Vineyard Wind will inevitably improve planning for future projects planned in federal waters.”