The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) on Monday released its draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the SouthCoast Wind offshore Massachusetts.
The project, previously called Mayflower Wind, is a joint venture of Shell New Energies US LLC and Ocean Winds North America. It has a proposed capacity of 2.4 GW for its full offshore wind lease area. The developer announced the name change at the start of the month, saying it reflects the importance of the SouthCoast region.
The notice of availability of the draft EIS will be published in the Federal Register on February 17, which will start a 45-day public comment period. The feedback will be used to help prepare the final EIS.
The project envisages up to 147 wind turbines and two export cable corridors, making landfall in Falmouth and Somerset in Massachusetts, respectively.
A 1.2-GW portion of the project was awarded through Massachusetts’ offshore wind solicitations.
Right at the end of 2022, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities approved power purchase agreements for the Mayflower Wind and Commonwealth Wind projects, of 405 MW and 1.2 GW, respectively. This was despite an effort by Avangrid Renewables LLC, the developer of the Commonwealth Wind project, to scrap the process to rebid the project in the state’s upcoming offshore wind tender in the face of economic challenges.
Separately, on Friday, Massachusetts issued a request for comments for a fourth-round solicitation for offshore wind energy projects. Input is being sought on a number of questions, including how best to account for current and future inflation and other supply chain and economic pressures to both ensure project viability and protect Massachusetts ratepayers.
Authorities are also seeking comments on what the maximum procurement target should be and on the procurement schedule, given that the fourth round has to be issued within 24 months of the prior solicitation, which was launched in the spring of 2021.
The questions for public comment can be viewed here: https://macleanenergy.files.wordpress.com/2023/02/83c-round-4-request-for-public-comments-final.pdf.
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Offshore wind turbines. Image by: Ocean Winds.
