CDC to Buy Brayton Point Power Station. Eyes Offshore Wind Potential

Commercial Development Company (CDC), a U.S. commercial real estate and brownfield redevelopment company plans to buy the retired Brayton Point Power Station in Somerset, identified as having big potential to serve the offshore wind industry. 

CDC pointed out that the 307-acre site at Brayton Point could represent a unique opportunity to advance the offshore wind energy sector due to its pre-existing access to the regional transmission grid.

In addition to grid access, the site boasts close proximity to proposed offshore wind tracts, deep water port potential, and access to a highly skilled workforce in the New England area, CDC said.

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center recently identified Brayton Point as a potential site for the development of an industrial wind port to support the new wind energy diversification legislation.

Throughout the remediation process, CDC will be engaged in a global marketing campaign to find appropriate end users for this location.

CDC and Dynegy, the current owner from whom CDC is buying the site, are under contract to transfer the ownership, following a final due diligence period with closing anticipated by mid-December. As part of the transaction, CDC will assume responsibility for legacy environmental liabilities associated with the site.

CDC said it plans to invest in repositioning of the 307-acre retired power plant and develop a market-ready plan to transform the former energy asset for post-coal utilisation.

The company said it will now engage in a repositioning process which will dramatically transform the waterfront property. Immediately following the ownership transfer, activity is expected to include asbestos abatement, environmental remediation and restoration, and demolition of most of the coal-related infrastructure on site.

In 2016, Ørsted (former DONG Energy) filed an Interconnection Request Application with ISO-New England to use 800MW of interconnection capacity of Brayton Point power station in Somerset, Massachusetts, for bringing offshore wind energy generated by the Bay State Wind farm onto the grid.