Bay State Wind Plans More Than $2 Million in Environmental Research Grants

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bay State Wind, which is working to bring clean, renewable and
affordable energy to Massachusetts, today announced plans to provide
more than $2 million in grants for research and programs to protect New
England’s fisheries and whale populations.

The grants include $1 million for a Bay State Wind Marine Science Grant
Program for directed fisheries resources research on the Bay State Wind
lease area. Funded projects will focus on addressing specific questions
and concerns raised by the fishing industry.

In addition, the Woods Hole Oceanography Institute would receive a
$500,000 multi-year grant for the development of advanced whale
detection systems, and the New England Aquarium Right Whale Research
Project and the Lobster Foundation of Massachusetts would each receive
$250,000 to prevent gear entanglement of the North Atlantic Right Whale.

Bay State Wind is the only offshore wind developer in Massachusetts that
employs a full-time marine biologist. In addition, John Williamson, a
leading voice in commercial fishing, is Bay State Wind’s liaison to
fisherman.

“These grants demonstrate Bay State Wind’s commitment to environmental
responsibility,” said whale biologist Laura Morse, environmental manager
for Bay Sate Wind. “We are taking steps to strengthen the population of
the North Atlantic Right Whale, which is weakened by boat strikes and
fishing gear entanglements. In addition, Bay State Wind will address two
of the main threats to marine life — rising ocean temperatures and ocean
acidification — with the clean energy that its wind farms will produce.”

“The Lobster Foundation is looking forward to providing an industry
perspective to cooperatively develop a range of safe, reasonable and
economical solutions to mitigate interactions with the large whales,”
said Beth Casoni, executive director of the Massachusetts Lobstermen
Association.

“I am pleased that Bay State Wind is seeking to use near real-time
passive acoustic monitoring to help mitigate the effects of construction
activity on the seriously endangered North Atlantic Right Whale,” said
Mark Baumgartner, Associate Scientist of the Biology Department at Woods
Hole Oceanographic Institution. “WHOI's state-of-the-art technology,
when used together with other monitoring approaches, can help alert Bay
State Wind and other wind energy developers of the whales' presence so
that the developers can take precautions to mitigate ship strikes and
noise exposure to the whales.”

Also included in Bay State Wind’s grant program is a $5,000 annual grant
lasting five years to the Whale Alert Project for the refinement of the
Whale Alert System to prevent lethal ship strikes.

“Endangered North Atlantic Right Whales face grave danger from ship
strikes and a host of other threats,” said Patrick Ramage, director of
the Marine Conservation Program of the International Fund for Animal
Welfare, a leader in the Whale Alert Project. “This grant will help us
do a better job protecting these critically endangered animals and
conserving the marine habitat on which their survival, like our own,
depends.”

The other grants and initiatives include:

• Center for Coastal Studies — $5,000 annual grant (up to 5
  years) for the Marine Debris Program to promote marine waste reduction
  and recycling initiatives.
• National Ocean Science Bowl/Blue Lobster Bowl — $5,000 annual
  grant (up to 5 years) to support the highly regarded high school Ocean
  Science Education Program and encourage students to enter into the
  renewable energy field.
• Mitigation and Monitoring Advisory Panel — Bay State Wind will
  develop a panel that includes North Atlantic Right Whale specialists,
  acousticians and environmental representatives to help build a
  mitigation and monitoring plan.

Bay State Wind is a 50-50 partnership between Ørsted, the world’s
largest developer and operator of offshore wind farms, and Eversource,
New England’s leading electrical transmission company. Together, they
are bidding to launch the nation’s offshore wind industry by building
the first commercial-scale wind farm in the country 25 miles south of
New Bedford. The environmental research grants will be awarded upon Bay
State Wind’s selection as a developer for the offshore wind farm.

For more information, visit the following sites:

Woods
Hole Oceanography Institute

New
England Aquarium Right Whale Research Project

Lobster
Foundation of Massachusetts

Whale
Alert Project

Center
for Coastal Studies

National
Ocean Science Bowl/Blue Lobster Bowl

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 North America
Lauren Burm, 617-309-8730
[email protected]