Energy company collaborating closely with the community to reduce impacts during construction

BOSTON, Mass. (October, 23, 2024) – As part of Eversource’s continued investment in strengthening and modernizing the electric system to better withstand extreme weather and support clean energy, the energy company has proposed two significant reliability projects on Martha’s Vineyard: The Martha’s Vineyard Reliability Project and the 91 Cable Replacement Project. These projects will help to meet the Island’s growing energy demands, facilitate the decommissioning of five leased diesel generators, and play a crucial role in advancing the commonwealth’s ambitious decarbonization goals, while also supporting the electrification of the transportation and heating sectors.

The Martha’s Vineyard Reliability Project will enhance energy infrastructure for the Island by installing a 2.7-mile underground duct bank and a 6.1-mile submarine cable across Vineyard Sound. Once onshore at East Chop, the new electric line will connect to existing utility poles located on a nearby Eversource property, and additional electric distribution equipment. Additional upgrades are also planned for the Falmouth Substation. Concurrently, the 91 Cable Replacement Project will share the same infrastructure but will use a 5.5-mile submarine cable running to West Chop. Both projects will route through Falmouth and connect to Martha’s Vineyard at Oak Bluffs and Tisbury, using new state-of-the-art submarine cables and underground conduits to safely and efficiently deliver power. Construction is already underway in Oak Bluffs and is expected to continue until early 2025. The two new lines are projected to be fully operational by March 2026.

“These critical reliability projects will help to meet growing energy demands on Martha’s Vineyard and enhance electric reliability for our customers, while also transitioning the Island off its use of diesel generators to reduce its carbon footprint and support the commonwealth’s ambitious decarbonization goals,” said Eversource Vice President of Distribution and System Planning Lavelle Freeman. “As we electrify transportation and heating sectors, these upgrades are crucial to driving the Island’s energy transformation and promoting long-term environmental stewardship.”

“It will be great to have the two new cables. They allow us to continue our work in transitioning the island away from fossil fuels and provide the needed power for heat pumps and electric vehicles,” said Kate Warner, Energy Planner at the Martha’s Vineyard Commission. “The fact that the diesel generators will no longer be needed to meet our peak demand in summer is an added bonus. Having them decommissioned will improve our air quality.”

More information about Eversource’s transformative roadmap to transitioning to the clean power grid of the future can be found on the company’s website.

Eversource (NYSE: ES), celebrated as a national leader for its corporate citizenship, is among the top energy companies in Newsweek’s list of America’s Most Responsible Companies for 2024 and recognized as a Five-Year Champion, appearing in every edition of the list. Eversource transmits and delivers electricity and natural gas and supplies water to 1.8 million customers throughout Massachusetts, including approximately 1.47 million electric customers in 140 communities, 639,000 gas customers in 117 communities, and 11,500 water customers in five communities. Eversource harnesses the commitment of approximately 10,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. The #1 energy efficiency provider in the nation, the company is empowering a clean energy future in the Northeast, with nationally recognized energy efficiency solutions and successful programs to integrate new clean energy resources like a first-in-the-nation networked geothermal pilot project, solar, offshore wind, electric vehicles and battery storage, into the electric system. For more information, please visit eversource.com, and follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For more information on our water services, visit aquarionwater.com.

CONTACT:
Kyle Costa
774-464-8185
kyle.costa@eversource.com