Offshore wind developer Vineyard Wind LLC unveiled details of a plan to transform Bridgeport, Conn., into a manufacturing hub as part of its proposed Park City Wind project.
In response to an August solicitation for 2,000 MW of offshore wind energy by Connecticut's Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, Vineyard submitted Park City Wind as 400-MW proposal, with options to expand it to up to 1,200 MW. Vineyard is a joint venture between Denmark-based Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners K/S and Avangrid Renewables LLC, a subsidiary of Connecticut-headquartered Avangrid Inc.
Vineyard previously said that if Park City Wind has the winning bid, it will invest millions of dollars to convert a harbor in Bridgeport into a shipping channel to be used as a staging area to build offshore wind projects. The developer envisions building the project in one of its two federal wind energy lease areas, south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket, Mass.
Vineyard Wind was one of three companies to submit proposals to Connecticut. A decision by the state is expected in November.
In an Oct. 11 press release, Vineyard said Connecticut has potential as a hub for the emerging U.S. offshore wind industry. In total, East Coast states from Virginia to Massachusetts have in the last two years announced plans to procure 22,000 MW of offshore wind power, which Vineyard said represents $85 billion in economic and investment opportunities.
"Our commitment to Connecticut is significant," Vineyard Wind CEO Lars Thaaning Pedersen said. "We see a future with thriving ports in both New London and Bridgeport and manufacturers in every corner of the state working to literally lift this industry off the ground in the U.S. If Park City Wind is selected, the jobs and economic opportunities created by this project will be available in the region for decades to come."
Banking on this, Vineyard has proposed hundreds of millions of dollars in investments in Connecticut for the coming years. These investments would fund a range of improvements and programs, including redeveloping the 18.3-acre Barnum Landing industrial waterfront property in Bridgeport. In partnership with McAllister Towing and Transportation Co. Inc., this transformation of Barnum Landing will renovate the industrial waterfront and turn it into a host for what Vineyard said would be hundreds of unionized workers that will be hired to do foundation transition piece steel fabrication and final outfitting for offshore wind projects.
In addition, Vineyard proposed constructing an operations and maintenance facility in Bridgeport that would serve the Park City Wind project and operate for 25 years or more.
Vineyard Wind pledged to partner with workforce development organizations and offered up to $26.5 million to support developing a workforce to serve both its project and potentially other offshore wind facilities.
The majority stakeholder in Avangrid is Spain-based Iberdrola SA.
