Rhode Island launches 400MW renewables RfP

UNITED STATES: Rhode Island's largest electric distribution company, National Grid, has issued a request for proposals (RfP) for 400MW of renewable energy.

The US’ only offshore wind project, Deepwater Wind's 30MW Block Island, is off Rhode Island's coast

It seeks to sign 10-15-year contracts for projects eligible for renewable energy credits or renewable energy projects of 20-200MW.

The RfP is limited to "newly developed renewable energy resources" – suggesting solar PV, wind, small hydro, fuel cells and some biomass and waste-to-energy combustion generation, . The firm added that projects do not have to be located in Rhode Island, but must "provide substantial direct economic benefits to Rhode Island, such as job creation or property tax revenues".

Proposals must be submitted by 29 October. National Grid expects to conditionally select bidders for negotiation on 2 May 2019, and submit contracts for approval by the state’s public utilities commission by 30 August.

 builds on governor Gina Raimondo’s plans to include 1GW of clean energy in the state’s portfolio.

Rhode Island is home to ’ s only offshore wind project, the 30MW Block Island site, and also awarded its developer, Deepwater Wind, 400MW capacity in a .