Bay State Wind is the First Offshore Wind Project to be Granted ‘FAST-41’ Designation

Only Massachusetts Bid to Receive Federal Classification for Enhanced
Coordination

Among Permitting Agencies Allowing for a Streamlined Review Process

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Further demonstrating its leading ability to effectively navigate the
permitting process required to bring its proposal to completion, Bay
State Wind, a partnership between Ørsted and Eversource, today announced
it has been designated as a covered project under Title 41 of the Fixing
America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST-41). Bay State Wind is
the first and only offshore wind project, and one of only 38
infrastructure projects nationally, to receive FAST-41 status.

Bay State Wind is a proposed 400-800MW offshore wind project located 25
miles off the Massachusetts South Coast, and 15 miles off the coast of
Martha’s Vineyard. The project is a 50-50 joint venture between Ørsted,
the global leader in offshore wind, and Eversource, which is New
England’s premier transmission builder. Bay State Wind launched its
partnership in December 2016 to jointly develop, construct, and operate
the first in the nation utility-scale offshore wind project.

“With 23 offshore wind farms around the world, we always live up to our
commitments to bring projects forward in a timely and responsible
fashion,” said President of Ørsted North America Thomas Brostrøm. “Last
year we were the first to receive approval of an offshore wind Site
Assessment Plan, and our pursuit and recent designation of FAST-41
underscores Bay State Wind’s credentials as the most experienced,
dependable partner to help Massachusetts realize its ambitions of
becoming the hub for offshore wind development in North America.”

Bay State Wind’s participation in the FAST-41 permitting process will
not only encourage greater efficiencies and time savings in navigating
the federal permitting process, but it will also provide greater
confidence that the permitting schedule identified in its bid is
reasonable and achievable.

“This is a good day for Bay State Wind, but it’s an even better day for
the citizens of Massachusetts,” said Eversource Vice President of
Business Development Mike Auseré. “This covered project status will
de-risk the permitting process and enhance the likelihood that we will
receive our permit authorization on the timeline indicated in our bid.”

The Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act (FAST Act) was
signed into law on December 4, 2015. Title 41 of this Act (42 U.S.C. §
4370m et seq.), referred to as “FAST-41,” created a new governance
structure, set of procedures, and funding authorities to improve the
federal environmental review and authorization process for covered
infrastructure projects. As a FAST-41 project, Bay State Wind will
benefit from enhanced coordination, transparency, predictability, and
oversight of the federal reviews and permitting required prior to
construction.

Bay State Wind submitted its bid in December 2017 in response to the
commonwealth’s first RFP for offshore wind energy generation. As
included in its proposal, the Bay State Wind project will create up to
1,200 new jobs within the commonwealth during construction and up to
10,800 direct and indirect jobs over the life of the project; provide
500,000 Massachusetts homes with clean, reliable, and stable-priced
power; deliver $300 million in savings per year in lower winter power
costs; generate $30 million in lease payments, fees, and taxes that will
support local government functions over the operational lifespan; make
$1 billion direct investment in the commonwealth; commit $17.5 million
to support the commonwealth’s cornerstone programs for low income
families.

About Bay State Wind

Bay State Wind is a proposed offshore wind project located 25 miles off
the Massachusetts South Coast and 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s
Vineyard. The project is a joint venture between Ørsted – the global
leader in offshore wind – and Eversource – New England’s premier
transmission builder. Bay State Wind brings the experience of developing
23 projects around the world, on time and on budget, as well as deep
expertise in building transmission within New England, and sophisticated
knowledge of the region’s electrical grid. Bay State Wind’s proposed
commercial-scale offshore wind project will create more than 10,000
direct and indirect jobs over the lifetime of the project, drive
economic growth, provide cost-competitive clean energy and bring a
supply chain that establishes Massachusetts as the U.S. hub for a new
American industry. For more information on Bay State Wind, visit
baystatewind.com or follow us on Twitter @baystatewind.

Contacts

Ørsted
Lauren Burm, 617-309-8730
[email protected]