U.S. National Grid to Build Block Island OWF Subsea Transmission Link

U.S. National Grid has submitted a proposal to the Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers (DPUC) for construction of a transmission system to connect Deepwater Wind’s Block Island Offshore Wind Farm to the mainland via a subsea cable.

In 2012, National Grid and Deepwater Wind were negotiating an option for Deepwater to build the transmission link, which would then be bought and operated by National Grid. But, the parties could not agree on the purchase price, so the deal was off.

Under the latest proposal, which is supported by Deepwater, National Grid would pay USD 9.5 million for the investment that Deepwater had already made in developing the transmission link.

The proposal was sent to DPUC as a Notice of Intent on March 13, and signed by National Grid Rhode Island president Timothy F. Horan.

However, National Grid and Deepwater Wind had not yet signed an agreement, and the document was sent to DPUC as a notification on current status of negotiations between the companies, National Grid spokesman David Graves told Providence Business News.

Before the agreement is approved, a public hearing will be held on the proposal.

The transmission link comprises a subsea cable route 20 miles long (approximately 32 kilometers) from the offshore wind farm to Scarborough State Beach in Narragansett, where it would make landfall.

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Offshore WIND Staff, March 21, 2014; Image: Deepwater Wind