Connecticut Takes a Pass on Offshore Wind in Latest Auction

December 23, 2024, by Adnan Memija

The US state of Connecticut has decided not to purchase any capacity from offshore wind projects in its most recent renewable energy procurement round.

In its latest renewable energy procurement round, the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) selected projects totalling 518 MW of new solar generation and 200 MW of new electric storage capacity.

However, DEEP closed its solicitation for offshore wind resources without selecting any bids.

Its neighbouring states, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, contracted 2,878 MW of capacity across three different projects in a multi-state coordinated offshore wind solicitation in September.

“While DEEP did not select an offshore wind project in the multi-state RFP, we applaud the offshore wind selections made by Massachusetts and Rhode Island earlier this year. Connecticut remains committed to offshore wind, a critical source of energy supply that is helping to reduce emissions, improve grid reliability, bolster our energy supply, and support economic development in our state and region,” said DEEP.

Massachusetts, Rhode Island Award Nearly 2.9 GW Capacity in First US Multi-State Offshore Wind Auction

Planning & Permitting

In October 2023, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on employing a coordinated selection of offshore wind projects through each of their respective offshore wind energy generation solicitations – the first time neighbouring US states teamed up to procure offshore wind capacity.

Massachusetts launched its fourth and largest offshore wind solicitation to date on 30 August 2023, seeking 3.6 GW of new generation capacity, and Rhode Island and Connecticut opened their offshore wind solicitations in October 2023 for 1.2 GW and 2 GW of offshore wind, respectively.

“DEEP will continue to work with state and regional partners, such as the Connecticut Wind Collaborative, to bring offshore wind and other resources online affordably, including through future competitive solicitations, to achieve a reliable clean energy supply for the state and region,” the department added.

“We look forward to partnering with the other New England states on a new regional transmission procurement in 2025 to advance transmission projects that provide significant regional reliability and affordability benefits.”

The Revolution Wind, which Connecticut has co-invested in with Rhode Island, is under construction and will soon deliver renewable energy to IS-New England, said DEEP.

Ørsted’s 704 MW Revolution Wind project will comprise 65 Siemens Gamesa 11 MW wind turbines and, once operational, will deliver 400 MW of offshore wind capacity to Rhode Island and 304 MW to Connecticut, powering more than 350,000 homes across the two states.