Vineyard Wind, a joint venture between Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) and AVANGRID, has received the first shipment of turbine components for GE’s Haliade-X 13-megawatt (MW) turbine at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal.  The tower sections – the base of the turbine that’s placed on top of the yellow transition piece – will be constructed at the terminal before being shipped out and installed later this summer.

“After a long road, the first day of component arrival is finally here,” said Vineyard Wind CEO Klaus S. Moeller.  “This is great milestone for New Bedford, Vineyard Wind and the country. We’ve been working together with Mayor Mitchell for years to achieve this and are now finally seeing the result. I am proud to introduce this technology to the US and to see the many jobs that this industry will create in action on the site to today. This is only the first – much more is coming.  And the vision of New Bedford at the epicenter of the offshore wind industry is coming to life today.”

Towers will arrive in three sections and once onshore will be staged at the terminal before being partially assembled by union labor and loaded onto a specialized barge.  In all, approximately 100 union trades people will work on the site during the peak construction period. 

“Congratulations to Vineyard Wind, as well as the workers, local officials, businesses, and advocates who made this important milestone possible,” said Governor Maura Healey. “The Vineyard Wind 1 project is an integral part of our efforts to make Massachusetts a global leader in offshore wind. Our administration looks forward to continuing to support this project and bringing clean, affordable energy to Massachusetts.”

“The arrival of turbine components for the Vineyard Wind project represents the clearest manifestation yet of what we’ve been working on for more than a decade, namely, to position New Bedford as the leading offshore wind port on the East Coast. With our partners at Vineyard Wind, we are excited to launch this new industry for the benefit of the City and our nation,” said New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell.

“CIP is proud to play a leading role on the Vineyard Wind 1 project,” said Tim Evans, Partner and Head of North America for CIP. “Our extensive industry experience allows us to deliver on our promises, as evidenced today by the arrival of these components. We look forward to many more milestones for Vineyard Wind in the coming months, and to developing future projects in Massachusetts and around the US in the years to come.” 

“The arrival of the first turbine components for Vineyard Wind 1 marks a significant milestone for the construction of this first-in-the-nation project,” said Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra. “The U.S. clean energy transformation is accelerating, and well represented by the City of New Bedford, where local, union workers will build this historic project, deliver clean energy to 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, and pioneer a new American offshore wind industry.”

"We are pleased to work closely with our customer, Vineyard Wind, to bring this historic project on line,” said GE Vernova Offshore Wind CEO Jan Kjaersgaard.  “Our teams at GE Vernova are proud to support the effort to bring more clean, renewable energy online in Massachusetts, across the US, and globally."

Vineyard Wind recently submitted its first annual report to the state compiled by UMass Dartmouth and Springline Research Group that found that Vineyard Wind is jumpstarting the offshore wind economy in Massachusetts.

“Offshore wind is a key component of our clean energy future, and I’m thrilled to see the progress that Vineyard Wind is making in bringing this game-changing technology to the Commonwealth,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka.

“This milestone from Vineyard Wind represents the potential that Massachusetts has to serve as a major player in the offshore wind industry, which will help the Commonwealth achieve its emissions reduction targets, all while creating new job opportunities for Massachusetts residents in the process,” said House Speaker Ronald. J Mariano. “The need for clean energy production is why the House made historic investments in offshore wind last session, and it's why the House is committed to pursuing ways to provide further support for offshore wind development.”

“The arrival of these turbine components is a huge step toward our clean energy future,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper. “Clean, affordable energy is coming to Massachusetts residents and businesses. I’m grateful to the many hands that helped us get to this point — the workers and leaders on the South Coast, the companies that invested in our state, advocates who have championed offshore wind for decades, our partners in government, and our nation-leading Legislature.”

“The arrival of the first turbine components at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal marks a significant milestone for Massachusetts' leadership in clean energy and solidifies our position as a frontrunner in offshore wind,” said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Jennifer Daloisio. “We commend Vineyard Wind for their pioneering spirit, and we are fortunate to have their support. This achievement is a testament to the long-term vision of policymakers, the community, and industry partners, shaping a sustainable future for generations to come.”