Photo: Madison Rogers/WBZ NewsRadio
SALEM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Local leaders broke ground on the state’s second major offshore wind farm Thursday in Salem, Mass. The future Salem Offshore Wind Terminal is on the site of a former coal plant.
“Today, we celebrate the transition of the same site where for decades, mountains of coal were stored and burned into one that will make possible the clean energy future,” Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo said.
Gov. Maura Healey was in attendance, and said the project will power “homes and businesses across Massachusetts and beyond” and will create “jobs to support Massachusetts families.”
The groundbreaking comes just weeks after a Vineyard Wind turbine blade broke, sending debris into waters off of Cape Cod. That debris has since been washing up on the shores of Nantucket and beyond.
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On Thursday, the Town of Nantucket said that Vineyard Wind had “completed the safe removal of the hanging pieces of the affected turbine blade through a controlled cutting operation.” The town said that while most debris was collected, some could not be recovered.
“Vineyard Wind has assured the Town that they will maintain teams at sea, by air, and onshore on Nantucket and surrounding areas to monitor and address any additional debris that may be found,” the town said.
Healey referred to the broken blade as a setback, but vowed to keep investing in the offshore wind industry as a means to reach climate goals.
“Make no mistake about it, we are not going backward. We are going forward and Massachusetts is going to lead,” the governor said.
State leaders and Crowley Wind Services plan to open the new offshore terminal in January 2026.
WBZ NewsRadio's Madison Rogers (@MadisonWBZ) reports
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