Economic Benefits FAQs

The SouthCoast region will benefit from hosting a major clean energy infrastructure project through additional revenue, local jobs, and business activity. SouthCoast Wind 1 is anticipated to support over 14,000 jobs. SouthCoast Wind is committed to invest $42 million over 20 years through partnerships that are focused on bringing jobs and investment to the SouthCoast and its historically disadvantaged communities, plans to repower Brayton Point, regenerate Fall River, and reinforce the thriving and growing port community of New Bedford. SouthCoast Wind’s economic development and community support efforts will lay a foundation for a new vital business and employment cluster for the Commonwealth and the SouthCoast.

SouthCoast Wind looks forward to being a long-term and reliable partner in the SouthCoast community.

Falmouth will benefit from hosting a major clean energy infrastructure project through additional revenue, local construction jobs, and business activity. A Host Community Agreement is an essential tool for providing revenue to the Town with payments during operations. Payments may support local-driven initiatives, such as coastal resiliency, energy efficiency, and other priorities, as determined by the Town. Construction of the landfall, underground cabling, and onshore substation will create demand for a variety of qualified contractors and local retail businesses.

SouthCoast Wind looks forward to being a long-term member of the Falmouth community and an active participant in activities such as local school STEM, renewable energy education programs, and workforce training.

Over 20,000 jobs in Southern New England throughout the life of the project. The project has committed to ensure that at least 75% of all operations and maintenance are from the local workforce.

Nearly $2.5 billion in total economic benefit to the Commonwealth, according to the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

Offshore wind is a rapidly developing industry, where supply chain contractors are actively seeking opportunities to enter the U.S. market or expand existing U.S. operations into offshore wind services. While SouthCoast Wind is committed to local sourcing as much as possible, the project is designed within the limits of the current domestic supply chain and the respective roles of market participants, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI) service firm.

The near–term supply for many of the largest and components—including export cables, substations, gearboxes and generators− are largely served by European firms. The opportunity for suppliers to enter the U.S. offshore wind market is highest in foundations/substructures, towers, blade materials, and power converters and transformers. Potential areas for local contractors could include surveys, port operations, vessel operators, safety and training, blade repair, foundation and cable inspection and repair, among others.

We encourage interested contractors and suppliers to contact us.

SouthCoast Wind does not have any project labor agreements in place. Organized labor can be expected to play a key role in the offshore wind workforce development pipeline due to the heavy presence of skilled trade labor in the local market. Trade organizations and labor unions also play an important role in training to prepare new workers to enter offshore wind-related occupations.

SouthCoast Wind has crafted its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) plans with the goal of increasing the diversity of its internal staff, as well as its external partners. We believe that increasing diversity at every level of the organization can bring a wider range of experience and perspectives, resulting in better decision outcomes, which in turn will mean a better delivered project, and ultimately more benefits to the Commonwealth as it continues to fight climate change and racial and social inequities.

SouthCoast Wind is committed to invest over $115 million in initiatives that will help make the region a hub for offshore wind. This total investment is based on commitments made under the Massachusetts offshore wind procurement awards:

• $42.4 million, offered under the Section 83C III solicitation, with a focus on education, training, and workforce development; diversity, equity and inclusion; and low-income ratepayer support; and,
• $77.5 million, offered under the Section 83C II solicitation, that set a framework towards ports and infrastructure improvements; workforce training and development; applied research and innovation; marine science; and low-income ratepayer support.

Economic Benefits from MA 83CII & 83CIII
Offshore Wind Energy Procurements

The near–term supply for many of the largest and components—including export cables, substations, gearboxes and generators− are largely served by European firms.

The opportunity for suppliers to enter the U.S. offshore wind market is highest in foundations/substructures, towers, blade materials, and power converters and transformers.

Potential areas for local contractors could include surveys, port operations, vessel operators, safety and training, blade repair, foundation and cable inspection and repair, among others.

We encourage interested contractors and suppliers to contact us.

SouthCoast Wind has crafted its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) plans with the goal of increasing the diversity of its internal staff, as well as its external partners. We believe that increasing diversity at every level of the organization can bring a wider range of experience and perspectives, resulting in better decision outcomes, which in turn will mean a better delivered project, and ultimately more benefits to the Commonwealth as it continues to fight climate change and racial and social inequities.

You can find our Workforce Diversity Plan on the Documents page.

Gladding-Hearn is a leading small shipbuilder that in its 66-year history has constructed more than 430 vessels including those used for ferry service in New York, Boston Harbor and to Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket, and Block Island. Gladding-Hearn is also the nation’s leading builder of offshore pilot boats, which transfer harbor pilots to and from ships in extreme conditions.

The Gladding-Hearn manufacturing facility is located just north of Brayton Point in Somerset, and across the Taunton River from SouthCoast Wind’s proposed operations & maintenance port in Fall River.

The other partners in the project each bring unique knowledge, industry experience, and technologies to create what will be an industry-leading low emissions vessel design capable of operating in challenging weather and ocean conditions like those found offshore New England.