Massachusetts and Rhode Island selected 2,878 MW from three offshore wind projects “in the first coordinated procurement of its kind,” the states announced Friday.
“This historic offshore wind selection is an important building block to our regional offshore wind industry,” Mass. Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, D, said in a statement.
Massachusetts selected 1,087 MW of the 1,287-MW SouthCoast Wind project, and Rhode Island Energy awarded 200 MW from the project. Massachusetts also selected the 791-MW New England Wind 1 project and up to 800 MW of the 1,260-MW Vineyard Wind 2 project.
Connecticut was also a party to the solicitation but did not select any projects. The solicitation had aimed to procure up to 6,800 MW.
“The evaluation of project bids remains underway,” the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection said in a statement reported by Connecticut Public Radio. “We will announce a final decision in our solicitation at a future date.”
"Today marks a historic milestone for Rhode Island and Massachusetts as we join forces to drive the largest offshore wind procurement in New England's history," Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee, a Democrat, said. “Together with Massachusetts, we are setting a precedent for regional collaboration in clean energy and advancing a sustainable, resilient future."
Contract negotiations among the states, utilities and project developers can now begin. State regulators will need to review and approve the contracts, which officials said could be filed this winter.
Construction on the SouthCoast Wind project is expected to start in 2025, with power delivery beginning by 2030, the states said in their announcement. Avangrid’s New England Wind 1 project can begin construction as early as next year, with commercial operations expected to begin in 2029. No dates were given for the Vineyard Wind 2 project.
Clean energy advocates celebrated the procurement and the process.
“This offshore wind purchase collaboration represents a pivotal opportunity for advancing clean energy and reducing climate-damaging emissions across the region,” Kate Sinding Daly, senior vice president of law and policy at the Conservation Law foundation, said in a statement. CLF will “participate in the next review process to ensure that the proposed projects serve the best interests of New England’s families, businesses, and environment,” she said.
The procurement results “demonstrate the success, efficacy and value of a regional offshore wind solicitation to achieve state clean energy goals and regional economic targets,” said Liz Burdock, president and CEO at Oceantic Network.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island have boosted U.S. total offshore wind capacity under contract by over 20%, to more than 15 GW of offshore wind energy, Burdock said. "These three new projects will drive the industry well into the next decade, delivering jobs, investment and economic activity to further develop a robust Northeast supply chain,” she said.
