The US BOEM completes EIS review for a 2.4 GW offshore wind project

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has completed its Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed 2.4 GW SouthCoast offshore wind project, to be developed off the coast of the US States of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. The SouthCoast Wind Energy proposal would include up to 147 wind turbines, up to five offshore substation platforms and up to eight offshore export cables. 

Formerly known as Mayflower Wind, the SouthCoast Wind project was set up by Shell New Energies US and Ocean Winds North America following their success in a December 2018 leasing round. In March 2024, Shell sold its 50% stake in the project to Ocean Winds. Construction of the project could begin in 2025. For its first phase, SouthCoast Wind intends to interconnect 1,287 MW to the regional grid system at Brayton Point in Somerset, Massachusetts.

At the federal level, the United States targets 30 GW of offshore wind by 2030 and 15 GW of floating wind capacity by 2035. At the end of 2023, the US had 42 MW of offshore wind capacity.