EPA Approves Clean Air Act Permit for South Fork Windfarm off the Coast of Martha's Vineyard
BOSTON (January 18, 2022) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the final Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf air quality permit for South Fork Wind, LLC (South Fork).
The South Fork windfarm will be a 130-megawatt (MW) windfarm constructed in federal waters on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), southwest of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts and will have an alternating current electric cable connected to the electric grid in East Hampton, New York. The permit that EPA approved today consists of control requirements for air pollution during the construction and operation of the windfarm. EPA's approval is in concert with other federal approvals for the project, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) Record of Decision on the South Fork Wind Farm Construction and Operations Plan, which was released on November 24, 2021.
"Finalizing the Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf air quality permit for the South Fork Windfarm means that this renewable energy project will move forward in a way that meets Clean Air Act requirements for both construction and operation," said EPA New England Acting Regional Administrator Deb Szaro. "Upon completion, this windfarm will contribute 130 MW of clean energy to the grid, which is a great stride towards our efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
The Clean Air Act Outer Continental Shelf air quality permit to South Fork regulates pollutants from OCS sources such as construction barges, called jack-up barges, and other air-emitting devices like generators used for back-up electricity. The permit requires stringent "lowest achievable emissions rates" for nitrogen oxides, as well as "best available control technologies" for particulate matter and nitrogen oxides. Not only did EPA consider emissions associated with construction, operation and maintenance-related activities in this permit, EPA also considered to-and-fro vessel emissions. This is consistent with the Clean Air Act requirements for Outer Continental Shelf sources. Additionally, emission offsets are required by the permit for nitrogen oxide emissions associated with ongoing operations of the windfarm.
Background
Today's action by EPA is the first of seven windfarms, totaling over 4,000 MW of proposed capacity, that EPA Region 1 is evaluating for Clean Air Act construction and operating permits on the OCS over the next several years. The 130-megawatt South Fork project will contribute to the Biden-Harris administration's goal of generating 30 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind by 2030.
According to the U.S. Department of the Interior, when the project is completed the energy-generating potential of this windfarm will power up to 70,000 homes and businesses and will create an estimated 340 jobs. This project represents a major step in meeting state-based greenhouse gas emission reduction mandates and will help grow the clean energy economy in the northeastern United States.
The Agency relied on analyses conducted by BOEM to fulfill its obligation to demonstrate compliance with the Endangered Species Act, Magnuson-Stevens Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act. With the finalization of BOEM's Record of Decision on November 24, 2021, EPA was then able to issue its final air quality permit.
More information
Clean Air Act Permitting by EPA: https://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting
Final permits and related documents from EPA Region 1: https://www.epa.gov/caa-permitting/epa-issued-caa-permits-region-1
Online administrative record for the South Fork LLC permit: https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-R01-OAR-2021-0392