MassCEC accelerates the responsible development of offshore wind projects while increasing the role of Massachusetts companies, institutions, and workers in the offshore wind industry
Our Energy Future
Offshore wind will become the largest source of clean energy for Massachusetts, making more electricity available with lower emissions.
MassCEC supports the industry with programs and funding for workforce and supply chain development, interagency planning, technology innovation, wildlife research, and strategic port investments.
Explore the links below to learn how we work.
MassCEC Offshore Wind Initiatives
- Workforce Training and Development
- Supply Chain Directory
- Supply Chain Support
- Ports and Infrastructure
- Advancing Offshore Wind Responsibly
- Wildlife Research and Monitoring
- Commercial Fishing
- Wind and Ocean Resource Data
- Transmission
- National Offshore Wind Research and Development Consortium (NOWRDC)
- MassCEC Funding
- Power-US MA
- Windstar
- Ocean Renewable Energy Innovation Center
- Wind Technology Testing Center
- New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal
- Salem Offshore Wind Terminal
Where are the Offshore Wind Projects?
Offshore wind development is proceeding in federal waters under leases issued by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The current southern New England project areas can support up to 14 GW of offshore wind generating capacity. Projects in the southern New England project areas will serve electricity needs in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York. With water depths ranging from 40 to 60 meters (131 to 197 feet), the wind turbines for these projects use foundations that are attached to the seabed.
The level of demand for offshore wind in the region is expected to far exceed the capacity of the southern New England lease areas. With this in mind, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management launched a task force in 2019 to establish offshore wind lease areas in the Gulf of Maine (purple area, above). MassCEC and the Office of Coastal Zone Management are engaged in this process.
