The two developers vying for the third Massachusetts offshore wind development are each dangling the promise of economic development and renewal at a Massachusetts port if their project is selected — Mayflower Wind in Fall River and, announced Thursday morning, Vineyard Wind in Salem.
House Speaker Ronald Mariano outlined plans on Thursday for a $10 million job training program and long-term borrowing effort to fuel an offshore wind energy boom assisted by a Biden administration friendly to clean energy.
New Bedford’s whaling industry thrived in the 19th century, when whale oil was an important source of energy. Now, in the 21st century, it’s positioned to return to the sector as the staging area for offshore wind turbine projects.
Two offshore wind farm projects have signed leases to use the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal as the primary staging and deployment base for construction and installation, state officials said.
The U.S. government is taking steps to develop offshore wind farms off both coasts.
