Massachusetts for Offshore Wind
In the face of climate change, the race is on to decarbonize our energy system and to seize the associated economic opportunities. With the highest offshore wind procurements of any New England state, Massachusetts leads the way in advancing the potential of this shared resource.
Offshore Wind Status
Procurements to date:
- 3,241 MW
Projects:
- Vineyard Wind 1 (800 MW)
- Contracted 2018
- Status: approved
- Estimated commercial operation date (COD): 2023
- Mayflower Wind (804 MW)
- Contracted 2019
- Status: in process
- Estimated date of approval (EAD): 2024
- COD: 2025
- Commonwealth Wind (1,232 MW)
- Contracted 2022
- Status: in process
- EAD: 2023
- COD: 2027
- Mayflower Wind (Residual)(405 MW)
- Contracted: 2022
- Status: in process
- EAD: 2024
- COD: 2027
Current Projects
Massachusetts still remains a leader in offshore wind procurements and policy, having contracted over 3,000MW of offshore wind across 4 projects, and has potential for much more due to its proximity to the untapped resource of the Gulf of Maine. Yet, Massachusetts will need to bring a lot more offshore wind and other clean energy resources online as we electrify transportation and heating and transition away from fossil fuels. In 2022, the MA senate also approved S.2819 An Act Driving Climate Policy, a broad climate bill with several offshore wind provisions. A later amendment to the bill doubled the MA offshore wind procurement goal to 10GW by 2035. Several analyses have shown that offshore wind will be the linchpin of Massachusetts’ decarbonization strategy – it will likely provide around 50% of our state’s power by 2050. Doing so effectively and efficiently will require meaningful collaboration with our New England neighbors who share our electricity grid. Massachusetts is well-positioned to lead this regional collaboration on offshore wind as we look toward our decarbonized future.
The Astonishing Potential of Offshore Wind
Offshore wind is the single biggest lever that Massachusetts can pull to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and grow the economy – at the same time.
Elizabeth Henry, the President of the Environmental League of Massachusetts, outlines her goal to race towards the horizon — and create a tipping point in the market for offshore wind. Already, it is 80% cheaper to harness wind offshore than it was a decade ago. A very different way to power our lives, and create the jobs of the future, is within reach.
Open Letter to Governor Baker
A diverse group of advocates and institutions are troubled by the language related to offshore wind in Governor Baker’s January 14th letter vetoing the Next Generation Climate Bill.
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