AWC hires Bechtel and Alstom for 3GW offshore line

Earlier this week, AWC announced the first phase of the line - consisting of two power lines running from northern New Jersey to Norfolk, Virginia - will be called the New Jersey Energy Link. It will span the length of the state and carry 3GW.

US firm Bechtel will be the engineering, procurement, and construction contractor for the New Jersey Energy Link, while French power generation and transport specialist Alstom will be the key equipment supplier for the landmark project.

Bechtel will also handle all the onshore transmission lines and substations, two onshore converter stations and two offshore converter stations.

The New Jersey link will be built in three stages with construction planned for 2016. AWC aims to complete it by 2019. The line will be key to US offshore development along the Atlantic coast.

The AWC project was announced in October 2010, when Google agreed to become a major backer, along with renewables investor Good Energies, in the $5billion transmission project. Both have a 37.5% stake in the AWC.

The Atlantic Wind Connection, which will have a 6GW capacity, will run from northern New Jersey to Norfolk, Virginia. It was originally proposed by transmission developer Trans Elect.