Fast forward off Massachusetts

Massachusetts regulators have accelerated the timeline for the state’s upcoming call for up to 800MW of offshore wind.

The Department of Public Utilities this week approved the solicitation developed by utilities National Grid, Eversource and Unitel and the state Department of Energy Resources.

However, the agency shaved about three months off the proposed 16-month RFP schedule in response to comments by developers.

The shorter timeline “will allow project developers to structure reasonable proposals and will provide the electric distribution companies sufficient time to appropriately evaluate such proposals, complete contract negotiations, and submit any resulting cost-effective contracts to the Department”

It will also enhance “the potential for selected projects to qualify for higher 2018 federal tax credits to the benefit of electric distribution company ratepayers”, said the regulator.

The utilities are expected to issue the call by 30 June and bids will still be due by 20 December.

Projects are to be selected for negotiation in May 2018, with contracts to be executed and submitted for approval by 31 July the same year. The original schedule concluded in November 2018.

The state is seeking at least 400MW in the first round but could double that if a large-scale development proves “superior”.

Three development teams — Dong and Eversource, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Iberdrola, and Deepwater Wind – expect to submit bids in this first call.

Massachusetts plans to add 1.6GW of offshore wind capacity by 2027. A second call for project proposals will be held in 2019.

Image: Deepwater built the first US offshore wind farm (Deepwater)