Posted on April 3, 2024
Massachusetts received bids from Avangrid Renewables, South Coast Wind Energy, and Vineyard Offshore in the state’s fourth offshore wind solicitation.
The bids were in response to Massachusetts’ fourth offshore wind solicitation — the region’s largest to date for up to 3,600 MW.
In accordance with the RFP, bidders provided the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources with public versions of their bids, with confidential business information redacted, which are posted publicly on macleanenergy.com.
The Evaluation Team is led by DOER and includes the Electric Distribution Companies, the Executive Office of Economic Development, and in consultation with an Independent Evaluator.
Over the coming months, the Evaluation Team will review bids according to the RFP. The RFP outlines the selection criteria, which includes a quantitative evaluation of the project’s cost and energy market impacts, and a qualitative evaluation, which assigns points to bids based on various criteria, including economic development, environmental and fisheries impact, and support for low-income ratepayers.
Final decisions on project evaluation are due by August 7, 2024. The electric distribution companies would then execute long term contracts with selected project(s) by October 9, 2024, and resulting contracts would be filed with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities for review and approval by November 13, 2024.
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut also joined in a historic multistate agreement that allows for potential coordinated selection of offshore wind as each state solicits offshore wind energy generation through their respective state procurements.
Through this agreement, the three states will together seek multi-state offshore wind proposals that would expand benefits for the region, capture cost reductions by developing projects at scale, and develop into viable projects.
The three states also worked jointly to advocate for clarification from the U.S. Department of Treasury on tax guidance to expand eligibility for the Energy Communities bonus under the Inflation Reduction Act. Treasury recently released updated guidance in line with the states’ requests.
