Connecticut Joins US Offshore Wind Race

The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) of the US state of Connecticut has issued a Request for Proposals (RfP) seeking to solicit up to 825,000 MWh of offshore wind-generated power annually.

Under the RfP, DEEP is seeking proposals from developers of qualified Class I offshore wind sources. The minimum nameplate capacity of the projects must be no less than 2MW, which may include paired and co-located energy storage.

The projects are to be located in New England or an adjacent control area, including federal waters, DEEP said.

Eligible projects must begin construction no earlier than the effective date of the Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). The first electricity must be delivered no sooner than July 2019 and no later than 31 December 2025.

The draft RfP remains open until 1 April 2018, with the winning bids expected to be announced in June 2018.

With the issuance of the RfP, Connecticut has joined the ranks of the US East Coast states such as New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts and Maryland, which are actively supporting the development of their offshore wind potential.