Massachusetts, Rhode Island select 2,878 MW of offshore wind

Massachusetts and Rhode Island have selected 2,878 MW of offshore wind capacity from three projects developed by Ocean Winds, Avangrid Inc (NYSE:AGR), and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP).

The selection was part of the first coordinated multi-state offshore wind procurement in the US, involving Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Massachusetts selected 2,678 MW from three projects -- a 1,087-MW portion of the 1,287-MW SouthCoast Wind multi-state project, 100% of the 791-MW New England Wind 1 project, and up to 800 MW of the 1,200-MW Vineyard Wind 2 project. Rhode Island, in turn, will be taking the remaining 200 MW from SouthCoast Wind.

The selected developers will now start contract negotiations with the relevant utilities.

SouthCoast Wind is owned by Ocean Winds, a 50/50 joint venture owned by EDP Renovaveis SA (ELI:EDPR) and Engie SA (EPA:ENGI). It aims to supply power to the region by 2030.

New England Wind 1, formerly known as Park City Wind, is being developed by Iberdrola SA's (BME:IBE) subsidiary Avangrid. It will border Vineyard Wind 1, which is currently under construction. New England Wind 1 could begin construction in 2025 and reach full commercial operation in 2029.

Vineyard Wind 2 project is proposed by CIP’s Vineyard Offshore.

It was announced in March that the tri-state tender had attracted several bidders. In August, the bid selection date was extended by 30 days.

Massachusetts said the selection brings it closer to its statutory target to procure 5,600 MW of offshore wind by 2027. Rhode Island, meanwhile, will increase its offshore wind portfolio to 630 MW with the new project.

“This selection is New England's and Massachusetts’ largest offshore wind selection to date. We'll power 1.4 million more Massachusetts homes with clean, renewable energy, create thousands of good, union jobs, and generate billions of dollars in economic activity. The world will look to New England for the future of clean energy,” stated Massachusetts’ governor Maura Healey.

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