Deepwater Wind: Block Island Wind Farm Now Fully Permitted

Deepwater Wind today received the final federal approval needed to build the Block Island Wind Farm – a project that remains on-track to be the nation’s first offshore wind farm.

The project’s lead federal permitting agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (ACORE), has granted its approval of the Block Island Wind Farm. With ACORE’s permit, the Block Island Wind Farm has now been completely reviewed, and approved, by 11 state and federal agencies:

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
• Federal Aviation Administration
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• National Marine Fisheries Service
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• U.S. Coast Guard
• Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council
• Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management
• Rhode Island State Historic Preservation Office

“Today marks a pivotal moment not just for Block Island but also for the start of a new American industry we’re proud to be leading from here in the Ocean State,” said Deepwater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski. “We’re gratified and emboldened by the thousands of Rhode Islanders and people around the world who have passionately supported our efforts since we embarked on this project more than six years ago. We’re ready to build this project and to bring new jobs and clean energy to the region.”

Deepwater Wind has begun the initial stages of construction on the 30-megawatt Block Island Wind Farm, which will be located about three miles off the coast of Block Island, R.I. Earlier this year, Deepwater Wind selected Alstom as its Block Island Wind Farm turbine supplier and long-term maintenance and service provider. Deepwater Wind received delivery of its 15 wind turbine blades from Alstom in Denmark.

The U.S. Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is reviewing Deepwater Wind’s application for a right-of-way in federal waters for the Block Island Transmission System, the transmission cable associated with the Block Island Wind Farm. Deepwater Wind anticipates receiving BOEM’s approval in the coming weeks.

Offshore construction is expected to begin next summer, with the wind farm in-service in 2016.