The US state of Rhode Island is seeking the development of 600MW of new offshore wind capacity under legislation passed by the Senate.
The legislation, sponsored by Senator Dawn Euer at the request of Governor Daniel McKee, would require a market-competitive procurement.
If enacted, Rhode Island’s primary utility company would be required to issue the procurement no later than 15 October 2022.
Euer said: “When we enacted the Act on Climate last year, Rhode Island made a historically firm, enforceable commitment to rapidly adopt renewable energy and get serious about our climate obligations.
“Projects like the one we’re seeking with this legislation are an important part of our energy future.
“I’m glad to see the level of support there is for a major project like this one, because it will be a major step toward responsibly developed renewable energy in Rhode Island.”
The legislation now heads to the House of Representatives, where representative Arthur Handy is sponsoring its House companion.
Rhode Island is home to Block Island Wind Farm, North America’s first operational offshore wind farm, and the state has also approved the 400MW Revolution Wind offshore project.
An additional 600MW of offshore wind would further expand the state’s clean energy portfolio, with the potential to meet 30% of Rhode Island’s estimated 2030 electricity demand.
This is equivalent to powering roughly 340,000 homes each year.
Including the 30MW Block Island Wind farm and the planned 400MW Revolution Wind project, offshore wind would cover 50% of the state’s projected energy needs.
Under the bill, the state’s main electricity and natural gas distributer – now named Rhode Island Energy after its recent sale from National Grid to PPL – would be required to solicit bids for 600MW of new offshore wind capacity to feed into the electric grid.
The legislation was amended to remove an incentive that would have required ratepayers to absorb an incentive for the company equal to 2% of the contract value.
The amendment also allows the Public Utilities Commission greater authority to decide on disputed items in the contract between the utility and the developer.
The legislation requires the applications for new development to be publicly transparent, comply with labour standards and create a diversity, equity and inclusion plan that, at a minimum, addresses access to employment and vendor opportunities for historically marginalized communities.
The bill would also require offshore wind developers to provide information on potential environmental impacts through the submittal of an environmental and fisheries mitigation plan; estimates of local economic benefits.
Any proposed offshore wind contract would require review by the Office of Energy Resources, the Department of Environmental Management, and Rhode Island Commerce in the form of agency advisory opinions.
Such contracts would have to be filed with the Public Utilities Commission for review and approval.