Eversource is constructing the Cape Cod Solution, New England’s largest transmission project for offshore wind development. The initiative aims to combat climate change, enhance the electric system’s resilience, and deliver clean, renewable wind energy to customers in the region. It will specifically benefit Cape Cod, an area experiencing severe weather due to climate change.
“We are investing in our transmission system to interconnect more clean energy resources like offshore wind and distributed solar, and to accommodate increased demand for electricity as more customers adopt technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps,” said Eversource President for Transmission and Offshore Wind Projects Bill Quinlan. “This co-optimized solution is being built with our customers’ current and future needs in mind, and the project is cost-effectively designed to have minimal impacts on the environment and Cape Cod communities.”
Phase I of the Cape Cod Solution has begun, involving the construction of an approximately 12.5-mile transmission line designed for future electric needs. Operating at 115 kV initially, it will improve service reliability for Cape Cod customers. The line can increase capacity to 345 kV in Phase II, enabling the integration of power from offshore wind farms. Avangrid, the developer of Park City Wind, an 800 MW wind farm off Cape Cod's coast, will cover the costs of upgrading to 345 kV.
As Phase II and III progress, Eversource will upgrade existing equipment and substations to accommodate the anticipated influx of offshore wind power. The Cape Cod Solution will be a vital component of the regional transmission system, delivering offshore wind-generated power to Massachusetts and the rest of New England.
Eversource’s approach ensures infrastructure upgrades, including the new transmission line, are implemented within existing rights-of-way, minimizing impact on communities and the environment. The project supports 135 full-time employees, including members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 104.
