Posted on September 9, 2024
Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced on Sept. 6 the selection of 2,878 megawatts of offshore wind in the first coordinated procurement of its kind.
This selection is New England’s and Massachusetts’ largest offshore wind selection to date, representing nearly 20 percent of Massachusetts overall electric demand.
As a part of the procurement, Massachusetts selected 2,678 MW in total from three projects.
This selection is New England’s and Massachusetts’ largest offshore wind selection to date, representing nearly 20 percent of Massachusetts overall electric demand, marking a major step forward for offshore wind generation and supply chain.
Massachusetts selected 1,087 MW of the 1,287 MW SouthCoast Wind multistate project, 791 MW of the 791 MW New England Wind 1 project, and up to 800 MW of the 1,200 MW Vineyard Wind 2 project.
The multistate project selection breakdown by state is as follows:
Massachusetts
South Coast Wind, 1,087 MW
New England Wind 1 (Avangrid), 791 MW
Vineyard Wind 2 (Vineyard Offshore), 800 MW
Rhode Island
South Coast Wind, 200 MW
Next Steps
Following this announcement, the Massachusetts Electric Distribution Companies will begin contract negotiations with the selected developers.
Additionally, DOER and MassCEC will begin negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with each developer to memorialize and track the commitments made in their bids regarding economic development, environmental justice communities, and low-income ratepayer benefits.
Contracts resulting from this solicitation will be filed with the Department of Public Utilities for review and approval. When contracts are filed at the DPU, more information about the projects and the evaluation process will be made public, including project pricing and net benefits analysis, and economic development commitments. DOER estimates contracts will be filed at the DPU this winter.
Similarly, Rhode Island Energy will begin contract negotiations with the selected developer.
Additionally, RIE and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources will begin to work with Commerce Rhode Island on a Memorandum of Understanding with the selected developer to memorialize and track the commitments made in their bid regarding economic development.
Any contract resulting from this solicitation will be filed with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission for review and potential approval. If a contract is filed at the PUC, more information about the project and the evaluation process will be made public, including project pricing and net benefits analysis. RIE estimates a contract may be filed at the PUC this winter.
