MASSACHUSETTS OFFICIALS on Thursday gushed about the progress on Vineyard Wind, but one of the developers of the wind farm cautioned financial analysts that the project may not be fully completed this year as forecasted.
Pedro Azagra, the CEO of Avangrid, said he has learned over the last 12 months that fixation on specific offshore wind deadlines is not productive. He appeared to be referring to Vineyard Wind’s pledge to deliver its first power to shore by the end of 2023, a deadline the company ended up missing by two days.
Vineyard Wind previously said it will complete the wind farm this year, but Azagra said that timetable is not relevant. He said 10 turbines and 47 or 48 of the monopiles for the 62-turbine wind farm have been installed. And he said the contracts necessary to complete the wind farm are in place, but added that he is not locked in to a specific completion date.
“To me, it doesn’t matter if we finish in November this year or February next year,” he said. “The important thing is that we finish.”
Azagra said five turbines on the project are now delivering electricity into the regional power grid, an announcement that was portrayed as a major milestone by state politicians, who are counting on wind power to help decarbonize the economy but have had little to cheer about of late.
The state’s most recent offshore wind procurements were all scuttled by the runup in inflation and interest rates, as well as the war in Ukraine that disrupted the supply chain for wind farms. The Healey administration is hoping to get back on track with a new procurement process set to start on March 27 with the submission of bids and wrap up next year.
Against that backdrop, the news that five turbines are operational at Vineyard Wind was hailed as big news. Gov. Maura Healey issued a press release saying the five turbines are generating 68 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 30,000 homes.
“This marks a turning point in the clean energy transition. After many decades of advocacy, research, policymaking, and finally construction, America’s offshore wind industry has gone from a dream to reality,” Healey said. “Across Massachusetts, in 30,000 homes and businesses, when you turn on the light, you will now be using clean, affordable energy. This will make the air we breathe safer and healthier, save customers money, and bring us one step closer to achieving net-zero emissions.”
The Healey press release was accompanied by statements of support from 24 other politicians and business and labor leaders.
Vineyard Wind is a joint venture of Avangrid and Vineyard Offshore, an affiliate of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. Avangrid pulled the plug on two other wind farm projects – Commonwealth Wind and Park City Wind — when the economy shifted.