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Massachusetts approves Mayflower Wind contracts

By: Bridget Randall-Smith 09/11/2020 Massachusetts DPU

General Windfarms

The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) has issued an Order approving long-term contracts for the 804 MW Mayflower Wind offshore wind farm with the Commonwealth’s Electric Distribution Companies.

Mayflower Wind’s bid to develop an offshore wind facility was selected for contract negotiation in October 2019 via the State's second Request for Proposals (RFP).

The contracts result from An Act Relative to Energy Diversity, which was signed by Governor Baker in 2016, and will ultimately support economic development along the coast, ensure a resilient energy future for the Commonwealth and secure progress toward greenhouse gas reduction requirements. The project will bring the amount of offshore wind procured by the Commonwealth to approximately 1,600 MW.

“The approval of these contracts furthers the Commonwealth’s development of an offshore wind industry that will create local jobs, spur economic development and provide Massachusetts ratepayers with clean, affordable and resilient energy,” said Governor Charlie Baker.

This project is expected to provide approximately 0.1% to 1.8% savings on customer’s monthly energy bills, all other bill impacts remaining equal. Overall, the total net benefits, including both direct and indirect benefits, to Massachusetts ratepayers over the life of the contract are expected to be approximately $2.4 billion.

Additionally, the contracts include a $77.5 million commitment to support the offshore wind industry, scientific research, and economic development in Massachusetts and the South Coast, including:

$55 million to MassCEC for the creation of an Offshore Wind Development Fund that will fund port and infrastructure upgrades, workforce training, innovation seed funding, and applied research

$10 million for marine science and fisheries research

$7.5 million for port upgrades

$5 million for low-income strategic electrification with Cape Light Compact (CLC)

“These contracts will provide clean fuel diversification to the Commonwealth and improve reliability,” said Department of Public Utilities Chairman Matthew Nelson. “Importantly, this Order protects the Commonwealth’s ratepayers and ensures they will be provided clean, low-cost energy for years to come.”

Mayflower Wind is a 50/50 joint venture between Shell and EDP Renewables. In December 2018, Mayflower Wind won the rights to develop a lease area that can support up to 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind over 20 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. The developers expect energy to be delivered as early as the mid-2020s.

For more information on offshore wind farms worldwide, click here.

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Massachusetts approves Mayflower Wind contracts

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