The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has concluded its environmental review of the 2.6GW New England Wind project, to be located offshore Massachusetts.

This step brings the project closer to realisation, potentially supplying clean energy to 900,000 homes.

The New England Wind project, spearheaded by Avangrid’s Park City Wind, will be situated 20 nautical miles (nm), or 44km, south of Martha's Vineyard and 24nm south-west of Nantucket.

The project's two-phase plan includes the installation of 129 wind turbine generators and the construction of five offshore export cables to connect the electricity to onshore transmission systems in Barnstable and Bristol County.

The final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) published by BOEM assesses the potential environmental consequences associated with the project's construction and operational plans, alongside reasonable alternatives.

BOEM director Elizabeth Klein stated: “Diverse public input was essential to BOEM’s careful and thorough analysis of the environmental impact of the proposed New England Wind project.

“This document demonstrates the administration’s steady progress towards attaining clean energy goals that will better the lives of Americans now and in the future.”

The agency has scheduled the issuance of a record of decision no earlier than April 2024.

If the project receives the green light, this record will also outline any conditions.

In December 2022, the agency released the draft EIS, opened a 60-day period for public commentary and hosted three virtual public meetings.

In November 2023, Dominion Energy secured BOEM's agreement for its 2.6GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Located 23.5nm offshore Virginia Beach, it will generate sufficient clean energy to power 660,000 homes.