Where Is The Wind Farm In Massachusetts?
Wind farms are large groupings of wind turbines designed to generate electricity through wind power. They are installed onshore or offshore in windy areas to convert the natural power of wind into electrical energy. Wind farms have steadily grown in number across the U.S. and the world as interest in renewable energy sources has increased.
Wind power is considered a clean and renewable source of energy that does not produce greenhouse gas emissions or toxic pollution. As concerns about climate change grow, wind energy is seen as an important way to reduce reliance on fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas, which are major contributors to global warming. There are now over 60,000 wind turbines operating across 41 states in the U.S., with wind energy accounting for over 8% of electricity generation nationwide as of 2019.
History of Wind Power in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has been a leader in wind power development in the United States. According to Wikipedia, the state has vast wind energy resources offshore and onshore. Wind energy research began at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in the 1970s under Professor William E. Heronemus who is considered the founder of the UMass Wind Energy Center.
In the 1980s, the state passed key policies to promote renewable energy development including the Renewable Energy Trust Fund in 1998. This provided funding for rebates and grants to support wind and solar projects. The Massachusetts Renewable Portfolio Standard was also established in 1997 which mandated that utilities generate increasing amounts of electricity from renewable sources.
The state’s first utility-scale wind farm was the 10 turbine, 15 MW Berkshire Wind Power Project built in Hancock, MA in 2011. Offshore wind power also began development with approval of the Cape Wind project in Nantucket Sound in 2010, however this project was cancelled in 2017 due to permitting challenges and local opposition.
More recent large scale onshore wind farms built include Hoosac Wind in the western part of the state and High Ledges Wind in the Berkshires. In 2016, Massachusetts passed legislation requiring utilities to contract for 1,600 MW of offshore wind power capacity. This has led to contracts for major offshore wind farms such as Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind to be built off the southern coast of Massachusetts.
Major Wind Farms in Massachusetts
Massachusetts is home to several major wind farms that generate clean, renewable energy for the state. Here are some of the top wind farms by location, capacity and details:
Hoosac Wind
Location: Monroe, Massachusetts in Franklin County
Capacity: 19 turbines with a total capacity of 30 megawatts
Details: Hoosac Wind has been operating since 2012 and was the largest wind farm in Massachusetts at the time it was built. It is owned and operated by Iberdrola Renewables and provides enough electricity for 10,000 homes.
Berkshire Wind
Location: Hancock, Massachusetts in Berkshire County
Capacity: 10 turbines with a total capacity of 15 megawatts
Details: Berkshire Wind began operating in 2011 and was developed by Berkshire Wind Power Cooperative Corporation. It was the first utility-scale wind farm in Massachusetts.
Cape Wind
Location: Nantucket Sound off Cape Cod
Capacity: 130 offshore turbines with a total capacity of 468 megawatts
Details: Cape Wind was proposed as the first offshore wind farm in the United States but was controversial and never constructed. It had planned to provide 75% of the electricity for Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.
Wind Farm Locations Across the State
Massachusetts has a wide distribution of wind farms across the state. Here’s an overview of where the major wind farms are located:
In the western part of the state is Berkshire Wind Power Project in Hancock and Brodie Mountain in Hancock and Lanesborough. This is a very windy part of the state due to the higher elevations and ridges in the Berkshires. Turbines take advantage of the wind resource in this mountainous region.
Central Massachusetts has several wind farms clustered together in the towns of Princeton, Rutland, Barre, Paxton, and Oakham. Major wind farms here include the Princeton Municipal Light Department Wind Farm, Mount Wachusett Community College Wind Farm, and Boston Hill Wind.
On the southeastern coast is the Portsmouth Abbey School Turbine in Portsmouth. This 2.5 MW turbine provides power directly to the school.
Offshore, there are two major offshore wind farms – Cape Wind and Vineyard Wind 1. Cape Wind is located off the coast of Cape Cod in Nantucket Sound, while Vineyard Wind 1 is south of Martha’s Vineyard. These two pioneering offshore wind projects will provide clean energy to the coastal region.
Scattered across the state are smaller municipal and localized wind projects providing power directly to towns, cities, schools, and businesses. Massachusetts has embraced wind power through both large utility-scale wind farms as well as community-based projects.
Wind Farm Siting and Permitting
The process for siting and obtaining permits for wind farms in Massachusetts involves multiple levels of review and approval. At the state level, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB) oversees the process for permitting energy facilities over 1 MW, including onshore wind farms. The EFSB permitting process includes a comprehensive review of project plans, public hearings, and final approval or rejection of the project application (UMass Wind Energy Center, n.d.).
At the local level, wind farm projects must also go through zoning, land use, and environmental permitting from municipal authorities. Towns may require special permits or site plan approvals for commercial wind turbines. Model wind energy bylaws provide guidance to towns on establishing standards for siting, noise, setbacks, and other regulations (Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, n.d.). Careful siting to minimize impacts on wetlands, wildlife, and residential areas is an important part of the local permitting process.
Offshore wind farms follow a federal permitting process through the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Projects must submit extensive plans and go through environmental review, public comment periods, and other requirements to obtain approval from BOEM (Vineyard Wind, n.d.). Coordination with state agencies like the Massachusetts Office of Coastal Zone Management is also required for offshore wind farms.
Economic Impact
Massachusetts has seen substantial economic benefits from the development of wind farms across the state. For example, according to this recent article, Vineyard Wind, the country’s first large-scale offshore wind farm that will be built off of Martha’s Vineyard, has already generated significant economic activity even before construction. Vineyard Wind has put nearly 2,000 people to work and produced $424 million in economic output so far.
In terms of jobs, Massachusetts wind farms are generating employment in multiple areas – engineering, construction, operations, maintenance, and more. The Vineyard Wind project alone is expected to create over 3,600 full-time jobs over its lifetime. There are also broader positive impacts, as wind energy investments attract firms across the supply chain to locate in Massachusetts. For example, Vineyard Wind’s operations center is located in New Bedford and has already created over 100 permanent jobs in the city.
In addition to direct jobs and economic activity from wind farm development, wind energy also provides revenue for local communities. Wind farms pay substantial taxes and payments to host towns and communities. Vineyard Wind will pay over $16 million in taxes annually. This provides an important new source of revenue for local towns and cities.
Environmental Impact
Offshore wind farms can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. One major concern is the potential effect on wildlife, especially migratory birds, marine mammals, and fish. Turbines can impact birds and bats through collisions, and the noise from construction and operation may affect marine mammal communication and migration routes (BOEM, 2023). However, research suggests that with proper siting and spacing, wind turbines have minimal impacts on wildlife populations (The Conversation, 2023).
Wind farms may also impact marine habitats during construction due to seafloor disturbance and noise. However, the hard structures of turbine foundations create artificial reefs that attract marine life over time. Studies in Europe have shown increased biodiversity around wind turbine foundations (The Conversation, 2023).
The major environmental benefit of offshore wind farms is their ability to generate clean, renewable energy that reduces reliance on fossil fuels and associated emissions. The 924-megawatt Vineyard Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts is estimated to power over 320,000 homes and offset over 1.6 million tons of carbon emissions annually (BOEM, 2023). As more offshore wind is developed, significant emission reductions will be achieved in New England and across the U.S.
Community Impact
The development of wind farms in Massachusetts has generated debate within local communities. While wind energy is renewable and emits no greenhouse gases, some residents have raised concerns about the impact on scenic views, property values, and noise levels.
According to a 2021 survey by UMass Amherst and Tufts University researchers cited in the Boston Globe, public support for offshore wind in Massachusetts remains high overall. 72% of survey respondents favored offshore wind projects. However, there was less support among residents who lived closer to proposed wind farm sites. Concerns included impacts on tourism, commercial fishing, and ecological resources.
Developers have sought to engage communities through outreach efforts. For example, Vineyard Wind held over 400 meetings with key stakeholders across New England, according to a report by the Regional Plan Association. However, some local residents have called for an even greater role in decision-making regarding project locations and potential community benefits.
Research on the impact of wind farms on property values in Massachusetts has shown mixed results. Some studies have found limited or no effects, while others have cited potential decreases in values of up to 10-20% within close proximity to larger turbines. However, impacts can vary based on turbine visibility, setbacks, and other local factors.
Future Outlook
Massachusetts has ambitious goals for offshore wind development in the coming years. The state passed legislation in 2021 requiring utilities to procure up to 5,600 MW of offshore wind by 2027 and setting a target of generating 40% of the state’s electricity from offshore wind by 2040. To meet these goals, Massachusetts has plans for several new offshore wind projects (https://www.mass.gov/info-details/offshore-wind).
In 2022, the state opened its third offshore wind solicitation, seeking projects capable of generating at least 400 MW. This solicitation also includes a focus on environmental justice, requiring project developers to engage with environmental justice communities and provide plans to mitigate impacts. The solicitation is expected to result in 800-1,200 MW of new offshore wind power contracted by the end of 2023.
Additionally, federal permitting is underway for several large-scale wind energy projects off the coast of Massachusetts, including Vineyard Wind 1 (800 MW), Mayflower Wind (1,200 MW), and Southcoast Wind (400 MW). If approved and built, these projects would provide a major boost to reaching the state’s offshore wind goals over the next decade (https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/10/05/offshore-wind-massachusetts-vineyard-climate-whale-deaths-lawsuits). However, some projects continue to face legal challenges and permitting delays.
Overall, Massachusetts is poised to see significant growth in offshore wind capacity by 2030 and beyond if projects continue securing permits and contracts. However, realization of the full potential depends on overcoming legal, environmental, and economic hurdles.
Conclusion
In summary, Massachusetts has been a leader in developing wind energy, with both onshore and offshore wind farms contributing a growing share of the state’s renewable energy portfolio. Major wind farms can be found across Massachusetts, especially in the western and coastal regions where wind resources are strongest. While wind farms face siting and permitting challenges, the economic and environmental benefits have made wind energy an important part of meeting the state’s clean energy goals. With strong policy support and initiatives to increase offshore wind procurement, wind power is expected to continue expanding as part of Massachusetts’ strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Wind energy now accounts for over 2,200 MW of capacity in Massachusetts, generating enough electricity to power over 500,000 homes. As the state works toward a target of 5,600 MW of offshore wind by 2030, wind farms will become an increasingly vital part of the energy mix. By leveraging its wind resources, Massachusetts can secure a clean, renewable source of power for decades to come.
