New Bedford, MA – Three lease-holding offshore wind power companies today signed letters of intent to use the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center’s New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal as a launch pad for the state’s offshore wind energy projects to be built in federal waters. As Gov. Charlie Baker (R-MA), New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Rep. Bill Keating, state legislators, and a full auditorium looked on, representatives from Bay State Wind, Deepwater Wind, and OffshoreMW agreed to use the Terminal on the New Bedford waterfront for the projects they intend to move forward. Over the summer, the legislature passed and Gov. Baker signed an energy bill requiring Massachusetts to generate 1,600 megawatts of electricity from offshore wind, just a fraction of the over 8,000 MW of offshore available in areas carefully designated for development far from shore.

In response, the National Wildlife Federation, Environmental League of Massachusetts, Mass Audubon, Environment MA, MA Sierra Club, and Clean Water Action issued the following statement:

“Massachusetts is now an important step closer to reaping the rewards of our massive offshore wind power potential. It’s appropriate that the Whaling City, which once lit the world, will now help launch America’s next clean energy chapter from its Marine Commerce Terminal. New Bedford is a model for cities and states up and down the Atlantic Coast looking to grow their economies while acting to protect their communities and wildlife from the worsening impacts of climate change. We applaud the visionary, collaborative, and bipartisan leadership at all levels of government that has made it possible for New Bedford, and the Commonwealth as a whole, to be a guiding light for America’s next energy chapter. The developers are ready to get to work and we look forward to rolling up our sleeves alongside them to ensure this clean energy industry and its local, high-quality jobs swiftly and responsibly come to fruition.”