The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources has recommended that the US state’s electric distribution companies move forward with the procurement of an additional 1600MW of offshore wind capacity on top of the 1600MW already in the pipeline.
The recommendation came in a study, which was required under the terms of the 2018 bill An Act to Advance Clean Energy, investigating the benefits of a further 1.6GW of offshore wind.
Two solicitations of 800MW each are proposed for 2022 and 2024 by the report, with a further one in 2026, if necessary, to meet the 1.6GW goal.
The study also said that the benefits of an energy storage procurement paired with offshore wind should be considered.
Massachusetts opened a request for proposals for 800MW of offshore wind capacity last month, with the 800MW Vineyard Wind project successful in the state’s first RPF in May 2018.