This Wednesday, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut were the recipients of several offshore wind project proposals, as the trio of Eastern states aims to ramp up their clean energy portfolios.
In a groundbreaking pact, the states have opened doors for the potential joint selection of offshore wind endeavors.
Massachusetts saw proposals from Avangrid Renewables, South Coast Wind Energy, and Vineyard Offshore, catering to the region’s most ambitious wind energy call yet, with a target of up to 3,600 megawatts.
Governor Maura Healey’s team “is set to sift through the bids in the next few months, joining forces with Connecticut and Rhode Island to weigh up multi-state ventures that could amplify regional benefits, drive down costs, and bolster project feasibility,” stated Elizabeth Mahony, Massachusetts’ Energy Resources Commissioner, in an announcement.
Rhode Island, too, on Wednesday, started its assessment of pitches from Avangrid Renewables, Orsted, SouthCoast Wind Energy, and Vineyard Offshore, having sought around 1,200 megawatts of energy.
Chris Kearns, Rhode Island’s acting Energy Commissioner, shared the state’s anticipation for “poring over the proposals with Rhode Island Energy and the state energy offices of Massachusetts and Connecticut in the months ahead.”
The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection disclosed that it has received bids from four developers as part of the collective states’ solicitation.
Connecticut’s ambition is to harness up to 2,000 megawatts of new offshore wind, supplementing the 304 megawatts set to flow from the Revolution Wind project, a joint venture with Rhode Island currently in the works.
“We’re eager to dive into the proposals submitted through this RFP in the upcoming months and to collaborate on reviewing any multi-state bids with Massachusetts and Rhode Island,” mentioned Katie Dykes, the Commissioner of DEEP.
The department is planning to unveil any chosen projects by the third quarter of 2024.
Vineyard Offshore threw its hat into the ring for a 1,200-megawatt offshore wind initiative aimed at the tri-state’s call for up to 6,800 megawatts of capacity.
“Vineyard Offshore understands what it takes to bring offshore wind to New England, and achieving that means gaining the trust of the communities we serve,” commented Vineyard Offshore’s CEO Alicia Barton.
Ørsted has made its move by submitting a proposal for the 1,184-megawatt Starboard Wind project, poised to electrify over 600,000 Rhode Island homes.
Avangrid, Inc. has cast several proposals into the mix for the Massachusetts-Connecticut-Rhode Island offshore wind bid, including New England Wind, which encompasses two projects – the 791-megawatt New England Wind 1 and the 1,080-megawatt New England Wind 2.
