Massachusetts launches up-to 800MW RfP

Massachusetts distribution companies and the state's department of energy resources (DOER) have launched a request for proposals (RfP) for up to 800MW of offshore wind projects.

by Craig Richard 24 May 2019

The US's only operational offshore wind farm, Block Island off the coast of Rhode Island (pic credit: AWEA)

Bidders must submit proposals of 400MW, and can submit alternative bids between 200MW and approximately 800MW, according to the terms of the tender.

They will be competing to sign 15-to-20-year contracts with four Massachusetts power distribution companies.

The tender is the east coast state’s second solicitation and is part of a programme to have 1.6GW of offshore wind operational before 2027.

Confidential bids are due 9 August, with public bids due a week later on 16 August.

Winners are due to be revealed on 8 November and contracts are to be negotiated and signed by 13 December, ahead of final documents being submitted to the state’s department of public utilities on 10 January 2020.

A 50:50 joint venture (JV) of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables secured a contract for its project in Massachusetts’ first offshore wind tender in May 2018.

Equinor Wind, Mayflower Wind Energy (a JV of oil and gas major Shell with the US arm of Portuguese developer EDP Renovaveis), and the Vineyard Wind consortium then secured lease areas for further offshore wind development off Massachusetts in an .