Frequently Asked Questions

Avangrid & Basic Project Background

  • Avangrid is a leading sustainable energy company transitioning America toward a clean and connected future headquartered in Orange, CT, and has a footprint in 24 states with $44 billion in assets. Through our renewables business, we own and operate a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. Our offshore wind offices are headquartered in Boston, MA.

    Today, we serve the energy needs of over 7 million people in the Northeast, operating across 24 states, and have built 8.7 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity. As the third largest onshore renewables operator in the U.S., we’re driving innovation in wind, solar, hydrogen, and more to overcome a new generation of challenges and support the United States in meeting its climate goals. Whether we are generating clean, renewable energy from the sun and wind, or building the first large-scale offshore wind facility in the U.S., everything we do as a company is focused on creating a more sustainable, equitable future.

  • As one of the largest renewable energy developers in the nation, Avangrid has an 8.8 Gigawatt portfolio of more than 75 wind and solar facilities in 25 states, generating enough energy to power over 2.8 million homes across the country. Avangrid is building the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind project, Vineyard Wind 1, an 806 Megawatt (MW) development currently under construction 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.

    Avangrid is also developing the New England Wind lease area. Combined, the New England 1 and New England Wind 2 projects offer 1870 MW of clean, reliable offshore wind power, enough to power nearly 1 million homes and reduce emissions by nearly 4 million U.S. tons, equivalent to taking 700,000 cars off the road annually.

    Additionally, Avangrid is developing the Kitty Hawk South lease area which has the potential to deliver up to 2.4 Gigawatts of power to North Carolina, Virginia, or other states or private companies.

  • New England Wind 1 is permitted at the federal, state, regional, and local level and is consulting with Tribal Nations and local agencies.

    You can learn more about these permits here.

New England Wind 1 in Barnstable

  • Offshore wind turbines from the New England Wind 1 project will not be visible from Barnstable and will be located in federal waters over 35 miles from Barnstable’s coastline.

  • New England Wind 1 is landing power cables in Barnstable because the Eversource substations in Barnstable have significant capacity to accept new power; there are very few other such locations on the New England south facing coastline. Avangrid has secured the rights to this capacity at these substations and can therefore connect energy to the electric grid at these substations. In addition, Barnstable is proximate to the location of the wind farms south of Martha’s Vineyard.

  • Yes. Construction at the Craigville Beach parking lot will located in the western end of the parking lot. The eastern end of the lot will remain open as will the entire length of beach, unless town or state officials direct otherwise.

  • Upon completion, the parking lot at Craigville Beach and public roadways will be repaved in a full curb to curb restoration at no cost to the Town of Barnstable. There will be manhole covers in the roadway and manhole covers in the Craigville Beach parking lot for utility access.

Fisheries & Mariners

  • Yes, both recreational and commercial fishing will be allowed. Turbines will be spaced 1 nautical mile apart in a north-south, east-west square grid pattern.

  • Turbines will be visible on AIS and labeled on NOAA navigational charts.

    Uniform numbering and labeling of turbines will be consistent across MA/RI lease areas to provide location within the wind farms.

    Turbines will be orientated in a regular grid pattern to allow for navigable uninterrupted travel in multiple directions.

  • OFLs are experienced or retired fishermen employed by offshore wind companies to assist survey vessel captains/crew with bridge-to-bridge communications with fishing vessels. In this role they document fishing gear encountered/observed and verbal interactions on the radio to help avoid fishing vessel and gear conflicts. OFLs serve an important function and are tasked with extending the role of the offshore wind projects fisheries communications plan at sea so that there is effective communication onsite and in real-time. OFLs report to the Fisheries Liaison and serve as their “eyes, ears, and voice” during offshore operations.

  • Scout vessels are hired to work in conjunction with offshore surveys. Local fishing vessels are often utilized in this role, as they have familiarity with the region and the fishing gear types in the area. They work ahead of the survey vessel and directly communicate with the OFL/bridge of any gear spotted in the proposed survey ‘track.’ Through direct communication between the Survey team and the OFL, the scout vessel plays a key role in the safe passage of survey vessels and their equipment in and around known fishing areas.