New Bedford port facility expanding to support offshore wind. What to know.

NEW BEDFORD —The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is expanding onto four abutting properties to improve its support of the offshore wind industry.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center made the announcement Wednesday.

MassCEC is quasi-public agency funded via the Massachusetts Renewable Energy Trust Fund, and was created to spur clean-energy growth.

Agency says agreeable terms negotiated with property owners

The 30-acre New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal , constructed and operated by MassCEC, serves as a staging site for the construction, assembly, and deployment of offshore wind projects.

MassCEC said the expansion will "support the anticipated increased demand for port facilities that can deploy the larger, heavier turbine parts as proposed by offshore wind facilities," in a press release.

MassCEC said it negotiated mutually agreeable terms with the four abutting properties' sellers to accommodate plans for business relocation or consolidation.

Four-phase project scheduled for completion in late 2026

The four-phase project includes: building demolition/abatement and soil remediation; civil site improvements for high-bearing capacity groundworks; terminal bulkhead redevelopment; and new office/warehouse construction.

Completion is expected in December 2026.

The expansion signals the state's continued commitment to supporting the deployment of "gigawatts of renewable offshore wind" from this "essential port asset," according to the release.

It was planned in consultation with offshore wind project developers, wind turbine manufacturers, global marine transportation and installation companies, and port engineering consultants, according to the release.

Gov. Healey says it's the next step in Port of New Bedford history

Gov. Maura Healey said, “Throughout its history, the Port of New Bedford has served as a nexus of New England’s economy, from whaling, to fishing, to offshore wind. The investments in and expansion of the port will help maintain Massachusetts’ global leadership in offshore wind.”

The state Legislature passed An Act Relative to Immediate COVID-19 Recovery Needs in December 2021, which created a new Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry Investment Fund at MassCEC.

Through the Massachusetts Ports Investment Challenge, the state made a $180 million investment in several offshore wind port redevelopment projects, including the Marine Commerce Terminal expansion project, according to the release.

New Bedford officials praise expansion efforts

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said, “The Port of New Bedford has long been a maritime leader in America, and the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is now playing a pivotal role in launching America’s next major maritime industry: offshore wind energy.”

State Sen. Mark Montigny, D-New Bedford, said, "New Bedford continues to play a pivotal role in launching the nation’s offshore wind industry, which was initiated by the legislative delegation’s efforts to secure the necessary state funding and accompanying procurement policies through multiple administrations with continued support from the Healey-Driscoll Administration.”

State Rep. Tony Cabral, D-New Bedford, said, “The expansion of the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is vital to the growth and long-term success of the offshore wind industry in Massachusetts as well as the economic development of the city. New Bedford has long been the center of Massachusetts’ maritime economy and with the expertise of our built-in maritime workforce, we are best positioned to lead in offshore wind development.”

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: New Bedford port facility expanding to support offshore wind. What to know.