Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced last week that they have taken a complete of 2.87 GW of offshore wind in the first multi-state procurement of fresh offshore wind energy capacity in the United States, an approach that is seen as more effective in a business struggling from price fluctuations and project delays. It is the largest number bought in New England to date, and the largest by Massachusetts, which procured 2.67 GW of that total.
The state is closer to meeting its extreme goal of 5.6 GW of onshore wind by 2027, but the overall capacity purchased was significantly below the 6.8 GW offered by the two states and Connecticut. The former did not collect any novel potential, but did not disclose its factors.
The result is a promise made by Massachusetts Governor. Despite recent project headwinds, Maura Healey ( D) to continue the state’s push to develop offshore wind.
At a press conference on September 6 she said,” The bottom line is that Massachusetts needs to generate more power to be able to do what we need to do.” ” With our companions in Rhode Island, we are taking an important step toward energy independence, cleaner air and transforming our business. Simply put, we are going big”, she said. ” The future of fresh power will depend on New England for the best.”
To meet its 2.67 GW, the express chose 1.09 GW of the 1.29 GW SouthCoast Wind project power, with Rhode Island to get 200 MW. The Ocean Winds partnership, which was being developed by the job, is revived by the actions, which was put on hold in 2021 and fined for that stop. Massachusetts even procured the 791 MW New England Wind 1 task, to be developed by Avangrid, and up to 800 MW of the fund’s 1.2 GW Vineyard Wind 2 job.
The Vineyard 1 project’s continued shutdown, with engine installation largely stopped by federal regulators in July after a blade collapsed on one of its gigantic Haliade X machines, is now the developer and state. The projected reset of complete setup of the site’s 62 turbines, and continuation of power delivery by about 20 today operating has not been disclosed.
Yet so. According to Headley, the state purchasing “makes a significant contribution to the goal of deploying the first 10 to 15 GW of U.S. onshore wind, which will create crucial enabling system and supply chain investment to help a long-term home industry.” Lieutenant Gov. A$ 300 million offshore wind terminal is about to start construction in Salem, Massachusetts, according to Kim Discoll. and expansion of the New Bedford, Mass., offshore wind port terminal to support state offshore wind growth.
Selected projects will use union project labor agreements and occupy those port assembly sites and others in Providence, R. I and New London, Conn., Healey said.
South Coast Wind, situated 23 miles offshore of Nantucket, is set to start construction in late 2025 with delivery to the regional electric grid by 2030. The developer plans to revitalize Brayton point, a former 1, 493-MW coal-fired power plant closed in 2017 on Massachusetts ‘ south coast. As developers wait for federal approval of its final environmental impact review and finalize agreements with utilities on long-term contracts, project permitting is on schedule.
The decision represents” an important milestone for Ocean Winds as we expand our activities in the United States.” ” said CEO Craig Windram. EDP Renewables and ENGIE, both of which have offices in France, are the developers.
