The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has granted final approval for the SouthCoast Wind Project’s Construction and Operations Plan, the last necessary approval from BOEM following the Department of the Interior's December 2024 Record of Decision.
BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein emphasized the significance of the approval, calling it a milestone for the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to advance clean energy. She highlighted the project’s potential to power over 840,000 homes and its role in fostering job creation, economic growth, and climate change mitigation. The project marks the eleventh commercial-scale offshore wind energy initiative in the U.S.
The SouthCoast Wind Project, located approximately 26 nautical miles south of Martha's Vineyard and 20 nautical miles south of Nantucket, will generate up to 2.4 gigawatts of energy for Massachusetts and Rhode Island. It will involve the installation of up to 141 wind turbines and five offshore substations, with a maximum of 143 positions. Eight export cables will be placed across two corridors, potentially making landfall in Brayton Point or Falmouth, Massachusetts.
In response to public feedback, the project’s design was adjusted, removing six turbine positions to minimize impacts on marine wildlife. BOEM also incorporated measures to protect marine life and other ocean users, including fishing, as part of its approval process.
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