Statement from Mayor Kim Driscoll Regarding Offshore Wind Announcement

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll issued the following statement in response to today’s announcement from the Baker-Polito Administration regarding the Commonwealth’s selection of Commonwealth Wind to provide 1,200 MW of power through the recently complete 83C III solicitation for offshore wind power.

“Today’s announcement marks a transformative moment for Salem, our Commonwealth, and our planet,” said Mayor Kim Driscoll. “As the planned marshalling and construction staging site for this next generation of major offshore wind power, Salem now has a brighter future. It’s a future with hundreds of green jobs, a substantial expansion of our tax base, major private investments in improving our historic port, unique opportunities for new science, education, and workforce development initiatives, and, most importantly, the ability to take a significant, positive step forward in fighting the climate crisis. For centuries, when Salem looked toward its future, it looked toward the sea. This site has provided the electricity that powered our community and our Commonwealth for decades. Today, with this announcement, that legacy will continue with a new focus on a clean energy future, based on renewable power and with a commitment to real action to mitigate climate change. I very much look forward to working with the Vineyard and Crowley teams, as well as our own local stakeholders here in the community, as this exciting new opportunity now officially moves ahead.”

More information about the project plans for Salem are available at www.salem.com/home/news/vineyard-wind-partnership-salem-harbor-port.