Commonwealth of Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office

Environmental Notification Form

For Office Use Only EEA#: MEPA Analyst:

The information requested on this form must be completed in order to submit a document electronically for review under the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act, 301 CMR 11.00.

Project Name: Vineyard Wind Connector 2 Street Address: Offshore export cables from Federal/Massachusetts offshore boundary, northerly to Craigville Public Beach in Barnstable (Preferred Route), and onshore underground cables to a new substation in Barnstable and ultimately to an interconnection point at Eversource’s existing 345-kV West Barnstable Substation. An alternative onshore route in Barnstable between the same landfall site, substation, and interconnection point is also possible, as is an alternative landfall site at Covell’s Beach in Barnstable. Municipality: Barnstable Watershed: Cape Cod Universal Transverse Mercator Coordinates: Latitude: 41.637 to 41.686 388228 (easting) 4610344 (northing) to 387647 Longitude: -70.342 to -70.3501 (easting) 4615794 (northing) (UTM Zone 19N) Estimated commencement date: 2023 Estimated completion date: 2025 Project Type: Utility infrastructure Status of project design: 25% complete Proponent: Vineyard Wind LLC Street Address: 700 Pleasant Street, Suite 510 Municipality: New Bedford State: MA Zip Code: 02740 Name of Contact Person: Holly Carlson Johnston Firm/Agency: Epsilon Associates, Inc. Street Address: 3 Mill & Main Place, Suite 250 Municipality: Maynard State: MA Zip Code: 01754 Phone: 978-897-7100 Fax: 978-897-0099 E-mail: [email protected]

Does this project meet or exceed a mandatory EIR threshold (see 301 CMR 11.03)? Yes No

If this is an Expanded Environmental Notification Form (ENF) (see 301 CMR 11.05(7)) or a Notice of Project Change (NPC), are you requesting:

a Single EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.06(8)) Yes No a Special Review Procedure? (see 301CMR 11.09) Yes No a Waiver of mandatory EIR? (see 301 CMR 11.11) Yes No a Phase I Waiver? (see 301 CMR 11.11) Yes No (Note: Greenhouse Gas Emissions analysis must be included in the Expanded ENF.)

1 UTM Coordinates and Latitude/Longitude are given for the preferred landfall site at Craigville Public Beach and the interconnection point at the 345kV West Barnstable Substation. Effective January 2011 Which MEPA review threshold(s) does the project meet or exceed (see 301 CMR 11.03)? ♦ 301 CMR 11.03(7)(b)(4): Construction of electric transmission lines with a Capacity of 69 or more kV, provided the transmission lines are one or more miles in length along New, unused, or abandoned right of way. ♦ 301 CMR 11.03(3)(a)(1)(b): Provided that a Permit is required: alteration of ten or more acres of any other wetlands (no BVW alteration; temporary disturbance of ocean bottom, RFA and LSCSF) (ENF and EIR Threshold). ♦ 301 CMR 11.03(3)(b)(3): Dredging of 10,000 or more cy of material ♦ 301 CMR 11.03(1)(b)(3): Conversion of land held for natural resources purposes in accordance with Article 97 of the Amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth to any purpose not in accordance with Article 97 and/or potential for release of an interest in land held for conservation purposes(for underground easements associated with certain routes and variants). ♦ 301 CMR 11.03(2)(b)(1): Greater than two acres of disturbance of designated priority habitat, as defined in 321 CMR 10.01, that results in a take of a state-listed endangered or threatened species or species of special concern (possible pending NHESP consultation). ♦ 301 CMR 11.03(3)(b)(1)(a): Provided that a Permit is required: alteration of coastal dune, barrier beach or coastal bank (no bank will be directly altered, but a narrow strip of dune between the Craigville Beach parking lot and Craigville Beach Road may be temporarily affected, and paved portions of area mapped as barrier beach will have temporary construction impacts).

Which State Agency Permits will the project require: See Attachment D for complete permit list. ♦ Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection: Chapter 91 License, 401 Water Quality Certification, Superseding Orders of Conditions (if required); ♦ Department of Public Utilities/Energy Facilities Siting Board: Approval under MGL c. 164 Sections 69J and 72, and Chapter 40A Section 3 Zoning Exemption; ♦ Massachusetts Department of Transportation: Road Crossing Permits; ♦ Massachusetts Historical Commission: Field investigation permits; and ♦ NHESP: Conservation and Management Permit (potential).2

Identify any financial assistance or land transfer from an Agency of the Commonwealth, including the Agency name and the amount of funding or land area in acres:

The Project does not involve any state funding or land transfer.

2 In addition, there are a number of consultations/reviews that are required but are not technically “permits”, including MEPA Environmental Review and MHC Section 106 consultations. - 2 - Summary of Project Size Existing Change Total & Environmental Impacts LAND Total site acreage 16.9 3 New acres of land altered 7.0 4 Acres of impervious area 3.3 5 0.2 6 3.5 Square feet of new bordering 0 vegetated wetlands alteration Square feet of new other wetland 4.9 million

alteration (112 acres) 7 Acres of new non-water dependent 0

use of tidelands or waterways STRUCTURES Gross square footage 17,400 8 43,600 61,000 9 Number of housing units 0 0 0 Maximum height (feet) N/A 40 10 40 TRANSPORTATION Vehicle trips per day 0 <1 <1 11 Parking spaces 0 3 3 WASTEWATER

3 16.9 acres = 4.6 acres to be occupied by the offshore export cables (assumption is two 10-inch-diameter offshore export cables installed along the 23-mile Offshore Export Cable Corridor [OECC] in state waters) + 2.8 acres to be occupied by the onshore duct bank along the preferred 4-mile transmission route and 0.7-mile grid interconnection route (assuming a 5-foot-wide duct bank) + 6.7 acres assuming maximum use of the proposed substation site + 2.8 acres for maximum build-out of parcel 214-001. 4 Calculated for onshore land area: 1.2 acres for the 11-foot-wide duct bank trench used to install the onshore duct bank along existing utility ROW on the preferred routes (0.2 miles along preferred transmission route and 0.7 miles along preferred grid interconnection route) + 3.0 acres of currently undeveloped/forested area proposed to be altered during maximum build-out of the substation site + 2.8 acres of maximum potential build-out on parcel 214-001 immediately southeast of the West Barnstable Substation (assumes use for northern terminus of Route 6 trenchless crossing and possibly some substation equipment). 5 Existing impervious area is calculated as 2.3 acres of footprint of proposed duct bank (assuming 5-foot-wide duct bank) beneath existing roadways on the preferred routes (3.8 miles) + 1 acre of existing impervious area on the site of the proposed substation. 6 The proposed substation design will increase impervious area on the substation site by approximately 0.2 acres. If assessor map parcel 214-001 is used for the relocation of some substation equipment, this estimate will need to be revised. 7 4.9 million square feet (112 acres) = ~802,000 sf (18.4 acres) for burial of two offshore export cables through 23 miles of state waters, for which trenching is expected to temporarily affect an area approximately 3.3 feet (1m) wide + 2.4 million sf (56 acres) for temporary surficial disturbance from tool skids, assuming two 5-foot (1.5-m) wide skids + 1.1 million sf (25 acres) for dredging of sand waves within state waters (inclusive of approximately 1:3 sideslopes) to achieve sufficient burial depth (this area is an incremental addition outside of the area affected by trenching or skids) + 536,000 sf (12.7 acres) for anchoring. Project engineers are currently working to estimate the possible length of cable protection that may be necessary along the two proposed offshore export cables. 8 There is an existing 17,400-square-foot motel building on the site of the proposed substation that will be demolished. 9 The only enclosures proposed for the Project are those associated with the proposed substation, estimated at approximately 61,000 square feet. 10 Substation equipment and enclosures are expected to be 40 feet or less in height. The maximum height of any element of the proposed substation is ~80 feet (slender lightning protection masts). 11 Project requires no on-site employees. Vehicle trips per day excludes construction traffic. - 3 - Water Use (Gallons per day) 0 0 0 Water withdrawal (GPD) 0 0 0 Wastewater generation/treatment 0 0 0 (GPD) Length of water mains (miles) 0 0 0 Length of sewer mains (miles) 0 0 0 Has this project been filed with MEPA before? Yes (EEA # ) No Has any project on this site been filed with MEPA before Yes No The alternative landfall site located at Covell’s Beach was the preferred landfall site in Vineyard Wind Connector 1, filed with MEPA as EEA #15787.

- 4 - GENERAL PROJECT INFORMATION – all proponents must fill out this section

Introduction and Context

Off the coast of southern New England, the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has designated a Wind Energy Area (MA/RI WEA) consisting of seven lease areas reserved for the development of offshore wind energy generation projects. The location of these lease areas was determined through a process that involved significant public input over a period of more than six years. Vineyard Wind, LLC (Vineyard Wind, the Company or Proponent) holds Lease Area OCS-A 0501 (Lease Area), where it is developing several projects.12

Vineyard Wind’s first project is fully permitted at the state level as Vineyard Wind Connector 1 (EEA #15787). It will deliver approximately 800 MW to the ISO New England (ISO-NE) regional electrical grid from Vineyard Wind 1, a wind energy generation project in the late stages of federal permitting. Vineyard Wind 1 will be built in the northern zone of the Lease Area (see Figure 1-1 in Attachment B). The remaining portion of the Lease Area not being developed for Vineyard Wind 1 is referred to as the Southern Wind Development Area (SWDA).

Vineyard Wind’s second project for permitting at the state level is Vineyard Wind Connector 2. It will deliver approximately 800 MW to the regional electrical grid from Park City Wind, a wind energy generation project located in the northern part of the SWDA. The Vineyard Wind Connector 2 is the “Project” for purposes of state review, and includes all of the transmission infrastructure subject to Massachusetts-jurisdiction that will deliver the zero-carbon energy generated by Park City Wind to the ISO-NE regional electrical grid. The Project represents another major step forward in meeting the region’s growing demand for clean energy, making a substantial contribution to achieving individual New England state renewable energy requirements. The Project will also bring significant economic benefits to southern New England and will advance the Commonwealth’s objective of becoming a national center for offshore wind energy. This Project is distinct and separate from Vineyard Wind 1/Vineyard Wind Connector 1.

This Environmental Notification Form (ENF) applies to the Vineyard Wind Connector 2 Project. However, Vineyard Wind is seeking federal approval to eventually develop the remaining southernmost portion of the SWDA in the future with a third, separate wind energy generation facility. The size of that future project will be dictated by the eventual physical extent and capacity of the unbuilt portion of the Lease Area remaining after construction of Vineyard Wind 1 and Park City Wind. Future build-out of the southernmost portion of the Lease Area will involve two additional offshore export cables to be located, for the most part, within the Offshore Export Cable Corridor (OECC) being utilized for Vineyard Wind Connector 2 and Vineyard Wind Connector 1. At this juncture, the timing of the future build-out of the southernmost portion of the SWDA after Vineyard Wind Connector 2 is unknown. Further, a specific landfall site, substation site(s), and onshore route within Barnstable have not yet been identified, but all infrastructure would be separate and distinct from that proposed for the Vineyard Wind Connector 2. No significant cumulative impacts from activities subject to state jurisdiction are anticipated because construction of the future third project will be separated from construction of the Vineyard Wind Connector 2 by some amount of time and because impacts from installation of offshore export cables will be temporary. The only exception is the possible placement of cable protection, which will be minimized only to those areas where sufficient cable burial is unsuccessful.

12 Vineyard Wind is also the holder of the easternmost lease area in the MA/RI WEA, Lease Area OCS-A 0522. Development plans for this area are in the very early stages. - 5 - Vineyard Wind Connector 2 – Proposed Project Elements

The Vineyard Wind Connector 2 includes two three-core offshore export cables connecting the offshore electrical service platform (ESP) located in the SWDA to the landfall site onshore. The two offshore export cables will transition to six single-core onshore export cables in transition vaults/joint bays at the landfall site, then continue underground within a buried concrete duct bank. The route for this duct bank will predominantly follow existing public roadway layouts to a proposed onshore substation. The substation will step up voltage to enable the interconnection with the electrical grid at the existing Eversource 345-kilovolt (kV) West Barnstable Substation.13

Offshore elements of Vineyard Wind Connector 2 will largely utilize the OECC developed for the Vineyard Wind Connector 1, which will transit through state and federal waters. Within Massachusetts waters, the OECC will pass offshore through the towns of Edgartown, Nantucket, Barnstable, and possibly a corner of Mashpee before making landfall in Barnstable (see Figure 1-4 in Attachment B). The total length of the OECC from Park City Wind in the SWDA to the landfall site is approximately 63 miles (101 kilometers [km]), with approximately 23 miles (37 km) of the OECC located within state waters. Onshore Project elements will be located entirely within the Town of Barnstable. A Project locus is provided as Figure 1-1 in Attachment B.

Massachusetts review of the elements within Commonwealth jurisdiction (i.e. the Vineyard Wind Connector 2), including the MEPA review, covers portions of the two offshore export cables in state waters (approximately 23 miles [37 km] for each of the two cables), the transition to shore via horizontal directional drilling (HDD) at the landfall site, all onshore transmission, the proposed onshore substation, and the 345-kV interconnection to the electrical grid, which will involve some expansion of the existing 345-kV West Barnstable Substation.

Additionally, all offshore and onshore elements of the Park City Wind project will be subject to review under federal processes coordinated by BOEM; the remaining build-out of Lease Area OCS-A 0501 will also be included in the federal review, to the extent those project elements are known. It is anticipated that state agencies and other interested parties in Massachusetts will participate in that review, including through the Coastal Zone Management consistency process. At its nearest point, the SWDA where the infrastructure for Park City Wind will be located is just over 19 miles (31 km) from the southwest corner of Martha’s Vineyard (about 16 miles into federal waters) and approximately 23 miles (37 km) from Nantucket; the SWDA is approximately 41 miles (66 km) south of the Cape Cod mainland. Major elements of Park City Wind in the SWDA in federal waters will include wind turbine generators (WTGs) and foundations, ESPs and foundations, and inter-array cables.14

Routing and Export Cables

Routing for the proposed offshore and onshore export cables between the SWDA in federal waters and the West Barnstable Substation is shown on a United States Geological Survey (USGS) quadrangle base map on Figure 1-1 in Attachment B. Figure 1-2 shows onshore “transmission routes”, which will connect one of two possible landfall sites in Barnstable to the proposed onshore substation. Figure 1-3 shows onshore “grid interconnection routes”, which will connect the proposed onshore substation to the West

13 The Project’s grid interconnection is proposed at the 345-kV West Barnstable Substation constructed as part of the NSTAR Lower SEMA Project, as distinguished from the 115-kV Oak Street Substation located on the northern side of the same parcel. 14 Inter-array cables connect several WTGs to a single ESP. - 6 - Barnstable Substation grid interconnection point. Preferred and Noticed Alternative routes, along with variants, are identified for both types of onshore routing, and all onshore routes are located entirely within the Town of Barnstable.

The Project’s proposed onshore substation will be located on a privately-owned parcel, on which Vineyard Wind holds an option to purchase agreement, on Shootflying Hill Road in Barnstable near the intersection of Route 6 and Route 132, approximately 0.7 miles (1.1 km) east of the interconnection location at the West Barnstable Substation (a portion of the parcel is currently occupied by a motel, see Section 1.3.4 in Attachment A for a detailed description). Vineyard Wind has a contract to purchase an approximately 2.8-acre parcel located immediately southeast of the existing West Barnstable Substation (see Figure 1-11 in Attachment B). This parcel is proposed as the northern terminus of a trenchless crossing across Route 6 (see Section 1.5.2.1.4 of Attachment A), and Vineyard Wind is also considering an alternative that would relocate some electrical equipment from the onshore substation site to this parcel. This would provide greater flexibility for the substation design, including the ability to enhance buffers on the substation site to minimize visual and noise-related impacts to adjacent residences.

The offshore transmission route, with the proposed OECC shown in Figure 1-4 in Attachment B, is largely the same corridor utilized for the Vineyard Wind Connector 1. One difference from the first project is that the OECC has been widened by approximately 985 feet (300 meters [m]) to the west, and along a segment through the Muskeget Channel area it has also been widened by approximately 985 feet (300 m) to the east. The typical width of the OECC is approximately 3,800 feet (1,150 m), with a range between approximately 3,100 to 5,100 feet (950 to 1,550 m). As with Vineyard Wind Connector 1, the flexibility of being able to install the two offshore export cables within a well-studied corridor allows for possible changes in offshore environmental conditions to be considered during detailed design and final route alignment selection. The widened OECC will also enhance the ability to perform micro-siting during installation to avoid and minimize impacts to sensitive habitats.

Vineyard Wind will maintain a minimum distance of approximately 330 feet (100 m) between cable pairs (i.e., between the cables for Vineyard Wind Connector 1 and Vineyard Wind Connector 2); spacing between cable pairs could be even greater in deeper waters. Project engineers anticipate that spacing between individual offshore export cables will be approximately 165 feet (50 m), though this could be modified further pending ongoing engineering evaluations. Spacing will be adequate to minimize the risk of damaging previously-installed cable (e.g., the first cable of the pair) during installation and provide sufficient space for future maintenance and repair activities, should they be necessary, of both cable pairs. For each individual cable the direct trenching impacts will be limited to an approximately 3.3-foot (1-m) wide strip of the seabed, with some broader impacts where sand wave dredging may be required to achieve burial within the stable seabed or where cable protection may be required should burial depth be insufficient. The vast majority of the OECC will remain unaffected by cable installation.

Offshore and onshore cables will have solid cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation, and will not require any liquid cooling (i.e., the cables will not contain any fluids). The two offshore export cables will be trenched into the seafloor with a target burial depth of 5 to 8 feet (1.5 to 2.5 meters), and all onshore export cables will be buried within concrete duct banks, primarily within public roadway layouts with some shorter stretches in existing utility transmission rights-of-way (ROW).

Alternatives and Expanded Narrative

Attachment A contains an excerpt from the Section 69J Petition filed with the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB), which discusses existing conditions and provides a more detailed description of the proposed Project, its schedule, and its alternatives. Attachment A is substantially the same as Section 1 of the EFSB Petition.

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