By Ritesh Gupta

Secretary of the Interior in the US Sally Jewell said that the decision marks the first right-of-way grant offered in federal waters for renewable energy transmission.

Deepwater Wind’s proposed project would entail the installation of a bi-directional submerged transmission cable between Block Island and the Rhode Island mainland.

The transmission system will connect Deepwater Wind’s proposed 30 MW Block Island Wind Farm, located in Rhode Island state waters about 2.5 nautical miles southeast of Block Island, to the Rhode Island mainland. It would also transmit power from the existing onshore transmission grid on the mainland to Block Island.

The ROW corridor, which is about eight nautical miles long and 200 feet wide, comprises the portion of the transmission line that crosses federal waters.

Once both the agency and Deepwater Wind have agreed upon the terms and conditions of the grant, BOEM will send the grant to Deepwater Wind for execution.