Massachusetts Calls For Additional 1.6GW of Offshore Wind

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) is calling on electric distribution companies to proceed with an additional 1,600MW of offshore wind solicitations in the state.

The call follows the results from an offshore wind study which investigated the necessity, benefits and costs of requiring the electric distribution companies to conduct additional solicitations of up to 1,6GW.

The study suggests that the new solicitations take place in 2022 and 2024 in order to have a balance between capturing cost effectiveness offered by later procurements while providing a pipeline of solicitations to prompt and maintain economic development opportunities.

Based on the analyses, the additional solicitation will likely provide benefits for Massachusetts ratepayers in excess of the anticipated costs of the contracts as long as offshore wind pricing remains similar to the first solicitation or continues to decline, DOER said.

The Massachusetts House and Senate signed into law the Act to Advance Clean Energy in August last year which required DOER to conduct the study and directed it to evaluate and assess the previous 1,600MW solicitation. The bill adds to the existing 1.6GW by 2027 target set in 2016.