Notices and Updates
On October 4, 2023, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut announced New England’s first offshore wind multi-state coordination memorandum of understanding (MOU), which creates a pathway for a potential coordinated selection of offshore wind as each state solicits offshore wind energy generation through their respective state procurements.
On September 1, 2022, Massachusetts joined with four neighboring New England states to release a joint Request for Information (RFI) to explore investment in electric transmission infrastructure needed to better integrate clean energy resources, including offshore wind, while improving the reliability, resilience, and affordability of the grid. Written comments are due on October 14, 2022 by 4 p.m. Massachusetts will review any written comments posted on the Regional Transmission Initiative web page.
For more information or questions, please contact transmission@newenglandenergyvision.com.
Offshore Wind Study
In 2018, the Governor signed into law An Act to Advance Clean Energy, Chapter 227 of the Acts of 2018, which required the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) by July 31, 2019 to study the necessity, benefits and costs of requiring the Electric Distributions Companies (EDCs) to conduct additional solicitations and procurements for up to 1,600 megawatts (MW) of additional offshore wind. The legislation also directed DOER to evaluate the previous 1,600 MW solicitation under Section 83C and the associated procurement process and make recommendations for any improvements.
The Offshore Wind Study was published on May 31, 2019.
The DOER Offshore Wind Study is the result of both extensive stakeholder outreach and quantitative energy sector modeling. Based on the analyses in our study, an additional solicitation of 1,600 MW 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 83C solicitation or continues to decline. Based on these findings described in more detail within the study, DOER recommends and will require the Massachusetts Electric Distribution Companies to proceed with an additional 1,600 MW of offshore wind generation solicitations.
Letter to the TUE Committee regarding the Offshore Wind Study (May 31, 2019)
Offshore Wind Study Stakeholder Q&A
DOER invited interested stakeholders to provide input into its investigation under Section 21 Chapter 227 of the Acts of 2018.
Offshore Wind Study Stakeholder Questions
Offshore Wind Study Stakeholder Answers
Offshore Wind Transmission Investigation
The DOER Offshore Wind Study recommended holding a technical conference to investigate whether and/or how a solicitation for independent offshore wind transmission should occur under the authority in the 2018 Act to Advance Clean Energy. DOER hosted a technical conference and solicited two rounds of written stakeholder comment in order to investigate the costs, benefits, and risks of independent offshore wind transmission. Materials from this investigation are available below on this page.
On July 28, 2020, DOER submitted a letter to the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy (TUE) announcing the results of its investigation into independent offshore wind transmission.
Offshore Wind Transmission Stakeholder Q&A
DOER invited interested stakeholders to provide input and data for a possible separate contingent solicitation for independent offshore wind transmission.
Request on Massachusetts Offshore Wind Transmission and Notice of Date for Technical Conference (January 15, 2020)
First Round of Stakeholder Comments on Offshore Wind Transmission
Second Request for Comment on Massachusetts Offshore Wind Transmission (March 19, 2020)
Second Round of Stakeholder Comments on Offshore Wind Transmission (April 22, 2020)
Offshore Wind Transmission Technical Conference
DOER, in partnership with the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), hosted a technical conference on Massachusetts Offshore Wind Transmission in Boston on March 3, 2020.
Technical Conference Agenda (PDF)
Technical Conference Handout (PDF)
Technical Conference Slide Presentations – Morning Session hosted by MassCEC (PDF)
Technical Conference Slide Presentations – Afternoon Session hosted by DOER (PDF)