Greenlighting Large-Scale Offshore Wind Project

The country’s first large-scale offshore wind project is moving forward, the Biden administration announced with its approval on May 11. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo were joined at the announcement event by labor leaders who have been working to ensure that the project is built and maintained by union labor.

Vineyard Wind will install more than 80 turbines off the coast of Massachusetts for the 800-megawatt project. The decision grants Vineyard Wind final federal approval for the project expected to create 3,600 area jobs and power up to 400,000 homes.

President Biden’s goals include adding 30 gigawatts of offshore wind generation to the U.S. coast by 2030.

Augusta, Maine Local 1253 President Nick Paquet recently testified about the jobs potential of offshore wind development before the state Legislature.

“The Gulf of Maine’s steady and consistent winds hold the East Coast’s greatest potential for wind power generation,” Paquet testified. “As a result, an economic analysis from the consulting firm Wood Mackenzie predicts that wind generation will support over 200,000 jobs.”