Draft RFP for Massachusetts’ Fourth Offshore Wind Solicitation

Wind Energy – Massachusetts USA

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and the electric distribution companies (EDCs) jointly filed a draft Request for Proposals (RFP) with the Department of Public Utilities (DPU), which if approved, would represent the fourth and largest offshore wind solicitation to date.

This filing demonstrates the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s continued commitment to building a robust and sustainable offshore wind industry for Massachusetts, while mitigating and minimizing detrimental environmental and socioeconomic impacts. 

If approved, the draft RFP will invite submittals for offshore wind generation to procure up to 3,600 MW, which represents 25 percent of the state’s annual electricity demand and a significant increase over the previous procurement, which sought approximately 1,600 MW of offshore wind.

This would be the largest procurement for offshore wind energy generation ever in New England.

“We are excited to announce the first offshore wind procurement of our administration – the biggest in our region’s history,” said Governor Maura Healey. “This draft RFP is a signal to the rest of the world that Massachusetts is all-in on offshore wind and ready to be the industry’s hub. Our proposal is also a commitment to Massachusetts ratepayers to chase after all clean energy for our homes and businesses.”

“As Mayor of Salem, I helped position our port to support the growing offshore wind industry along our coastline. Now, we’re going big with our draft procurement to ramp up our procurement of offshore wind energy,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “This RFP is the first step toward transforming how we power our communities across the state.”

Original Source: https://ocean-energyresources.com/2023/05/03/draft-rfp-for-massachusetts-fourth-offshore-wind-solicitation/