Gov. Baker Labels Marine Commerce Terminal a Mistake; Mayor Mitchell Responds

Mayor Jon Mitchell says he's confident the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal will pay off in the long-run.

Governor Charlie Baker made a statement on the Howie Carr Show Tuesday afternoon, siding with State Energy Secretary Matthew Beaton saying the $113 million investment by the state was not well spent on the project which had no assurance the now-defunct Cape Wind project would establish a base of operations at the terminal.

Speaking on his weekly radio program, Mayor Mitchell says the terminal will still be around when offshore wind catches on stateside, "It can take many years before an industry gets off the ground. What gives me confidence is that this industry, the offshore wind industry, is already developed in northern Europe. It's been around for nearly 25 years at this point and it's growing still."

Mitchell says the terminal continues to generate interest among potential offshore wind developers, and he even has a meeting this week with a representative of Danish Oil and Natural Gas, which has leased a portion of Nantucket Sound.

Mitchell reminds residents the terminal is a state investment, and city taxpayers are not on the hook for any more tax dollars than anybody else in the state.