State officers are searching for an offshore wind firm to construct a brand new farm that would produce greater than 1 / 4 of Massachusetts’ annual electrical energy demand, based on filings made public Tuesday.
Beacon Hill is pitching the brand new push for wind power as a giant win for Massachusetts ratepayers, with Gov. Maura Healey saying the state is “all-in on offshore wind and ready to be the industry’s hub.” If permitted, the Healey administration stated the brand new venture can be the most important in New England’s historical past.
“Our proposal is a commitment to Massachusetts ratepayers to chase after all clean energy for our homes and business,” the Democratic governor stated in an announcement, including the state is searching for as much as 3,600 megawatts, or 25% of the state’s annual electrical energy demand.
The administration stated that its venture request — filed with the Department of Public Utilities on Tuesday — locations an emphasis on supporting low-income employees, employees of coloration, and employees from “impacted environmental justice communities.”
The request was drafted to “boost” the business within the state and “ensure” that native ratepayers and companies get the inexpensive, clear power “they deserve,” stated Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper.
“The clean energy transition is about the people of Massachusetts. Aggressively procuring wind energy will deliver cleaner air, lower energy bills, and good-paying jobs,” Tepper stated in an announcement.
Any venture would wish to think about impacts on the atmosphere and fisheries, based on state filings.
And it additionally requires bidders to enter into an settlement with the state and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center “to provide various support for low-income ratepayers,” the Healey administration stated in its assertion.
A 2016 legislation centered on clear power approved the state to obtain as much as 5,600 megawatts of offshore wind electrical energy and if the brand new push is profitable, the extra energy would put Massachusetts on monitor to fulfill that authorization.
But not all teams are on board with the brand new solicitation.
Right-leaning Mass Fiscal Alliance criticized one a part of Healey’s plan that permits bidders to submit another “indexed pricing proposal intended to reduce risk to bidders and ratepayers” to account for inflation and different financial traits.
Massachusetts has a few of the most costly electrical energy prices within the nation and “the Healey administration is publicly signaling to offshore wind companies that the number one priority is to construct these turbines and not keep costs low for ratepayers,” stated Mass Fiscal spokesman Paul Craney.
“Ratepayers should be worried. If offshore wind companies are allowed to pass the inflation costs to the ratepayers, they absolutely will. The Healey administration is devaluing ratepayers in order to help get this latest project done,” Craney stated in an announcement.
This will not be the primary time Massachusetts has taken a crack at constructing an offshore wind farm.
This subsequent procurement represents the fourth time the state has gone after extra clear power. And it comes because the developer of a 1,200-megawatt wind farm is trying to rework its contact with the state after citing increased prices than the unique settlement.
The Conservation Law Foundation applauded the brand new offshore wind effort.
“If we’re going to meet the state’s ambitious climate goals, we need to seriously ramp up the development of renewable energy, and responsibly sited offshore wind is crucial. Fossil fuels like natural gas pollute our air and worsen the climate crisis, and this is yet another step towards leaving them in the past where they belong,” CLF Massachusetts Vice President Caitlin Peale Sloan stated.
Herald wire providers contributed to this report.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”
