Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut have signed an agreement to facilitate multi-state offshore wind procurement. This move marks New England's first offshore wind coordination memorandum of understanding (MOU), establishing a framework for potential collaborative offshore wind selection during each state's individual energy generation solicitations.
Under this arrangement, the three states invite offshore wind developers to submit proposals for multi-state offshore wind projects. These proposals will be considered as part of each state's respective offshore wind procurement processes for selection in 2024. Collectively, these states are seeking to procure up to 6,000 MW of offshore wind capacity. The actual project selections will be contingent on individual assessments conducted by each state, focusing on factors such as cost-effectiveness, benefits to ratepayers, and other criteria outlined in their request for proposals.
Furthermore, the MOU permits any combination of two or three states to jointly select a multi-state proposal, in accordance with each state's procurement authority. This collaborative approach enables the sharing of anticipated megawatts and renewable energy certificates from a single offshore wind project.
The multi-state coordination MOU represents a cooperative effort involving the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), the Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP), and the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (OER).
