What Does The Salem Offshore Wind Terminal Mean To The North Shore?

SALEM, MA — North Shore residents curious about what the Salem Offshore Wind Terminal project means to the city and the region are encouraged to get some answers during an upcoming public forum.

The public meeting will be held on Nov. 16 virtually at 6 p.m. here.

The terminal is set to be built on 42 acres of waterfront property surrounding the Salem Harbor Power Station on Fort Avenue.

The terminal will provide storage space, staging and pre-assembly for wind turbine equipment and vessels to load wind turbine materials for offshore use.

AVANGRID, as the port's anchor tenant, and municipal leaders have projected that the terminal site redevelopment will create more than 800 full-time jobs in support of the construction and staging of wind projects and daily operations.

"The Commonwealth Wind project is a transformational opportunity that will bring substantial jobs, investment, and clean reliable energy to Massachusetts, and we are pleased to work with Crowley and the city of Salem as this important port project moves forward," Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagran said in a recent statement.

Officials have said the project will create and support clean energy jobs during and post construction, create opportunities to partner with the community on science, education, and local workforce development initiatives, significantly invest in improvements to the city of Salem's historic port, and lead the way in the Commonwealth's effort to reduce its carbon footprint.

The recently passed $3.8 billion economic development bill includes $45 million for infrastructure improvement in Salem to facilitate the offshore wind port project.

City officials also recently said they will use a $50,000 state grant to help train future North Shore employees in the city's pending offshore wind energy industry.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)