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Massachusetts releases draft RFP

4C Offshore | James Bernthal-Hooker
By: James Bernthal-Hooker 25/02/2021 DOER
The state of Massachusetts is preparing to open its third offshore wind solicitation in May 2021. Earlier this month (February), the Department of Energy Resources (DOER) released the draft request for proposals (RFP) for public comment.

DOER is working with various distribution companies to prepare the RFP, known as 83C-III. They intend to procure between 400 and 1,600 MW of offshore wind, with no preferred size bid. It is expected that developers will be able to propose projects of any size from 200 MW to the full 1,600 MW. The size should be optimal ‘to efficiently use available lease area, maximize use of the interconnection point, and minimize the footprint of transmission cabling and other infrastructure.’


The draft is open for public comment until 25th February 2021. DOER expects to issue the final RFP on 7th May, with a bidders’ conference on 18th May. The proposal deadline is currently slated for 16th September, with the winning project(s) to be selected on 17th December and contracts negotiated and executed in March 2022.


In 2019, Mayflower Wind, an 804 MW project from Shell and EDPR, won the state's second round offshore wind solicitation. The wind farm is expected to power approximately half a million homes.


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