The Martha’s Vineyard Airport Commission has awarded Vineyard Wind the bid to lease the Duchess hangar complex at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport. The complex will be used as a helicopter base for the company’s industrial-scale offshore wind project.

The bid was announced at a meeting of the airport commission last Thursday morning and received unanimous backing in a vote from commission members, with one abstention from commissioner Kristin Zern.

The lease has a 20-year term, with the option to renew for an additional 20 years. Rent for the property begins at $1.34 per square foot for the approximately 20,000 square foot complex, with five-year appraisal-based adjustments and annual Consumer Price Index adjustments.

Reached by phone Friday, airport director Geoffrey Freeman confirmed the bid award.

“We are excited to have a new tenant and someone that is going to fix that area that is derelict for some years,” Mr. Freeman said.

He said Vineyard Wind plans to use the property as a helicopter base in conjunction with all maritime operations at their 800-megawatt off-shore wind farm.

The wind farm project cleared final approval from the Biden administration last month.

Mr. Freeman said the company plans to raze the hangar already on the property and build a helicopter hangar in its place.

The new hangar will comply with Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency standards and will include office space for Vineyard Wind’s flight crew and maintenance departments, Mr. Freeman said.

Vineyard Wind will foot the bill for all construction and building costs on the property.

The Duchess hangar property, situated near the airport’s snow removal equipment building, includes the derelict Duchess hangar. The complex has been under airport ownership for a decade following a legal battle between the hangar builder and the former airport manager.

The airport currently uses the complex for storage.

In February the airport commission voted to issue a request for proposals to rent the aging property with the stipulation that any future tenants use the area for aeronautic purposes. Vineyard Wind was the sole bidder.

Mr. Freeman said the airport plans to develop a strict flight pattern with Vineyard Wind helicopter operators to ensure minimal impact to abutters and airport neighbors.