The developer of what is touted as the first U.S. offshore wind energy transmission system, to run from Virginia to New York City, has picked Bechtel Group as EPC contractor for the first 189-mile, $1.8-billion leg off the New Jersey coast.
Atlantic Wind Connection, a consortium led by internet giant Google, said construction would begin in early 2016 and be built in three phases over a decade. The first phase is to be in service in 2019. Alstom also was named as equipment supplier and technical adviser on the project's high-voltage, direct-current system. "Adding Bechtel and Alstom was a huge step for the project," Atlantic Wind CEO Robert Mitchell told ENR. While the agreement with Bechtel is private, the firm is "stepping up to the plate" and taking some risk as well, Mitchell says. He would not elaborate on Bechtel's financial role.