Proposed Offshore Wind Farm Wins Key Massachusetts Permit

A proposed $2 billion wind farm planned for federal waters off Martha's Vineyard has been awarded a key permit by a state board responsible for reviewing proposed large energy facilities.

The Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board this week approved requests filed by Vineyard Wind for the construction and operation of the 84-turbine, 800-megawatt wind farm about 14 miles south of Martha's Vineyard off the Massachusetts Coast.

Project officials call the permit approval a significant milestone toward the wind farm's construction.

In February the project also received a key approval from Rhode Island regulators after the state's Coastal Resources Management Council determined the project is consistent with state policies.

Project officials say Vineyard Wind remains on schedule to begin onshore construction in 2019 with the goal of becoming operational by 2021.