SouthCoast Wind COP approved under Biden, ahead of Trump era

Approval of the COP is the final approval needed for the project from BOEM, following the Department of the Interior’s December 2024 Record of Decision. The project is wholly-owned by Ocean Winds.

Approval of one of the largest offshore wind projects in the US comes as President Biden, under whom offshore wind flourished in the US, leaves office, and President Donald Trump, an opponent of the industry is about to assume office.

BOEM director Liz Klein said, “We are proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of the SouthCoast Wind project, the eleventh commercial-scale offshore wind energy project in the US.

“Under the Biden-Harris administration, we made remarkable strides in advancing a clean energy economy, including approving more than 19 GW of offshore wind energy. Our offshore wind energy projects are opening doors to meaningful economic opportunities by generating jobs, boosting economic growth, and fighting climate change.”

Located approximately 26 nautical miles (nm) south of Martha’s Vineyard and 20 nm south of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the SouthCoast Wind Project will be able to generate up to 2.4 GW of offshore wind energy for Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

The project includes the construction of up to 141 wind turbine generators and up to five offshore substation platforms located at a maximum of 143 positions, and up to eight offshore export cables located in up to two corridors, potentially making landfall in Brayton Point or Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Compared to SouthCoast’s original proposed project, the selected alternative removes six wind turbine positions in the northeastern portion of the Lease Area to reduce potential impacts on foraging habitat and potential displacement of wildlife.