Warren, Markey, Moulton Announce $34 Million to Upgrade Salem Harbor into Hub for Offshore Wind
Boston, MA – U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and U.S. Representative Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) announced that the City of Salem will receive $34 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to redevelop a vacant industrial facility into a marshalling area for offshore wind energy projects. The federal DOT Port Infrastructure Development Grant awarded to Salem will position the city to be a national leader in offshore wind as it builds a new facility that will sport a 700-foot-long wharf and bulkhead for the assembly and transportation of offshore wind components.
“This $34 million federal grant will help transform Salem Harbor into a key port for offshore wind, which will create clean energy and green jobs for thousands of people in the Commonwealth,” said Senator Warren. “Massachusetts is a leader in sustainable offshore wind – and I will continue to fight to make sure communities across the Commonwealth get the federal funds they need to invest into clean energy and job-creating infrastructure.”
“Salem is on the front lines of our clean energy revolution,” said Senator Markey. “I am proud to have supported Salem in its efforts to secure an historic $34 million in federal funding to begin its development of a major new hub for offshore wind right in the heart of Salem Harbor. This project will strengthen our grid by propelling clean energy infrastructure and helping to power thousands of homes across Massachusetts.”
"This project will not only help to diversify and decarbonize our electrical grid, which we need now more than ever—it will also bring jobs to Salem. It is a great example of transforming old infrastructure into new to meet the needs of the moment. As we accelerate offshore wind development in the Atlantic, I am also committed to mitigating the impacts on fisheries and safeguarding our marine ecosystem,” said Representative Moulton. "Wind is one piece of the energy puzzle, and it is imperative that we pursue a diversity of clean energy solutions.”
“For centuries, when Salem looked toward its future, it looked toward the sea,” said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll. “This site, in particular, has provided the electricity that has powered our community and our Commonwealth for generations. Today, with this announcement, that legacy takes another step toward its continuation, with new focus on a clean energy future based on renewable power and a shared commitment to positive action to mitigate climate change. The transformational project that this major grant award will make possible will provide a significant expansion to our commercial tax base and create hundreds of clean energy jobs, right here in Salem. I’m incredibly grateful to Congressman Moulton, Senator Warren, and Senator Markey for their advocacy and support for this federal grant award, and to the City staff and community partners who made our application possible.”
In May, the lawmakers wrote a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to express support for the funding of the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal project through the FY2022 Port Infrastructure Development grant program.
As part of efforts to support a robust American offshore wind industry, the Inflation Reduction Act includes a brand-new manufacturing tax credit for offshore wind technology and vessels that are made in America, as well as an investment tax credit for which offshore wind manufacturing facilities can qualify, fulfilling Senator Markey and Warren’s Offshore Wind American Manufacturing Act.
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