Contract finalization for Massachusetts' recent offshore wind solicitation has been postponed to early 2025, impacting agreements for 2,678 MW of selected capacity.
Electric Distribution Companies informed the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) that parties involved in contract negotiations need additional time, aiming for contract execution by January 15, 2025, with submission to the DPU expected by February 25, 2025. This revised timeline shifts the original November 8, 2024, target for contract execution.
The solicitation, coordinated with Rhode Island and Connecticut, resulted in Massachusetts selecting three projects: a 1,087 MW portion of SouthCoast Wind, the full 791 MW New England Wind 1, and up to 800 MW from Vineyard Wind 2.
In related developments, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) released the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the up to 2.4 GW SouthCoast Wind project.
These projects mark significant progress in Massachusetts' offshore wind ambitions, but the adjusted timeline reflects the complexity of multi-state and multi-party contract negotiations.
