Vineyard Wind Will Use Union Labor In Major Offshore Wind Project

MARTHA'S VINEYARD — Vineyard Wind will use union labor to help construct the country's first major offshore wind project off Cape Cod's coast near Martha's Vineyard.

The Project Labor agreement was settled at a signing ceremony Friday in New Bedford with the Southeastern Massachusetts Building Trades Council, creating 500 guaranteed union jobs, to the region.

The pact will also provide power to more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts, saving ratepayers $1.4 billion over the first 20 years of operation, according to Senator Edward J. Markey.

The project is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 1.6 million tons per year, the equivalent of taking 325,000 cars off the road annually.

“Today’s Project Labor Agreement is a major breakthrough for climate action, good-paying union jobs, and equity in Massachusetts and America. We’re at the dawn of a new future – powered by the winds off our shores and the fierce urgency to combat our climate crisis,” said Sen. Markey.

The pact comes as President Joe Biden has pledged that his clean energy and climate change agenda will create millions of good-paying union jobs.

The Biden Administration approved the $2.8 million Vineyard Wind Project in May, billing it as a way to expand renewable energy production.

Construction on the project is set to begin in 2023.