Orsted, Avangrid, SouthCoast Wind and Vineyard Offshore have submitted bids for a tri-state US offshore wind solicitation for capacity off New England.
The proposals are for projects in the Massachusetts-Connecticut-Rhode Island multi-state solicitation for offshore wind power.
Vineyard has submitted a proposal for a 1.2GW offshore wind project.
Vineyard Wind 2 is proposed to be online by 2031.
“As the team that developed Vineyard Wind 1, the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind project, Vineyard Offshore knows how to deliver offshore wind to New England, and that’s by earning the trust of the communities we work in,” said Vineyard Offshore CEO Alicia Barton.
“Our project will deliver more than $2bn in economic benefits, create opportunities for workers and local businesses, and build on partnerships with local governments, organisations, and institutions across all three states, and we have the local support to show for it.”
The offshore wind facility will be located 29 miles south of Nantucket in lease area OCS-522, which is held by funds managed by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), for which Vineyard Offshore serves as US development partner.
The Vineyard Wind 2 project was proposed to each state as well as to the three states together under the New England solicitation process.
In Vineyard Wind 2, Vineyard Offshore has put forward a comprehensive multi-state project that will provide investments in the three states.
These include using Salem Offshore Wind Terminal (Massachusetts) as the staging site for wind turbine installation, providing hundreds of union jobs and focusing foundation components in Providence, Rhode Island, including sourcing secondary steel components for foundations from Riggs Distler & Co.
Meanwhile grid interconnection is proposed in Montville, Connecticut, where export cable from Vineyard Wind 2 Wind will make landfall in New London and interconnect with the New England power grid in Montville.
In addition, O&M for the completed offshore wind facility will be located at the New Bedford Foss Marine Terminal, in Massachusetts.
Avangrid submitted a bid for New England Wind 1, a second bid for New England Wind 1 and 2 combined, and additional bids for single-state procurements in Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.
New England Wind represents the 791MW New England Wind 1 project and 1080MW New England Wind 2 project, which Avangrid said will be able to achieve commercial operations before the end of the decade.
Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra said: “At this historic turning point for climate action, New England Wind answers the region’s call for projects that reflect the urgency, ambition, and certainty the moment demands.
“In powering up the first-in-the-nation Vineyard Wind 1 project, Avangrid proved that American offshore wind is possible.
“New England Wind 1 in particular builds on this momentum by offering a shovel-ready project that is prepared to start construction as soon as next year.
“With nearly all local, state, and federal permits in hand, all interconnection rights secured, and a Project Labor Agreement signed with a skilled, local, union workforce, Avangrid is ready to go.”
SouthCoast Wind bid Project 1 to deliver 1200MW of power to the tri-state solicitation.
“Today marks a pivotal moment for the SouthCoast Wind project and the offshore wind industry in New England.
“The first ever tri-state offshore wind solicitation demonstrates an unshakeable commitment to a clean energy future for all and we are proud to submit our bid.
“After years of extraordinary work by our team, the SouthCoast Wind project is on schedule to deliver abundant and renewable power to New England’s electric grid by 2030,” said Michael Brown, CEO, SouthCoast Wind.
Orsted has submitted a proposed offshore wind project off the coast of Connecticut to the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection.
To deliver the 1.1GW Starboard Wind, Orsted said it will use the New London State Pier for staging and assembly.
“Connecticut is a critical hub in the US offshore wind market thanks to its early investments and foresight, and Starboard Wind will further strengthen the state’s leadership in this important new American energy industry,” said David Hardy, Orsted Group EVP and CEO Americas.
He added: “In addition to fostering additional economic development, job creation, and innovative partnerships with local universities and organisations, we want to ‘make it here’ in Connecticut by providing opportunities for local businesses and workers to participate in the emerging domestic offshore wind supply chain.”
New London Mayor Michael Passero said: “Orsted has not only been instrumental in transforming the State Pier into a state-of-the-art offshore wind staging location, but also invested in our workforce and developed partnerships in our communities.”