Local News
Massachusetts and Rhode Island are teaming up on the largest offshore wind purchase in New England history.
Massachusetts will purchase 2,678 megawatts from offshore wind projects, which officials say will generate enough energy to power 1.4 million homes.
Rhode Island is also in on the energy purchase and will receive 200 megawatts from the deal. According to state officials, it’s the largest offshore wind selection in the history of New England.
Gov. Maura Healey announced the plan Friday at a press conference, where she emphasized the need to move from fossil fuels to renewable and clean energy.
“Bottom line is Massachusetts, we need more power. We need to generate more power to be able to do what we need to do,” said Healey. “We are taking a historic step forward toward energy independence, cleaner air, and transformation of our economy. We’re making New England’s first coordinated multi-state procurement of offshore wind. We’re going big.”
State officials said the wind selection represents nearly 20 percent of Massachusetts’ overall electric demand. In addition to powering over 1.4 million homes across the state, officials said the plan will reduce the state’s carbon emissions by the equivalent of taking one million gas-powered cars off the road. The related projects will also create thousands of jobs, Healey’s office said, and are expected to generate billions in economic activity.
“I would not be making these investments if I didn’t know and believe that this was the right thing to do for Massachusetts,” Healey said at Friday’s press conference.
Under the plan, Massachusetts selected three projects and will purchase 1,087 megawatts from SouthCoast Wind, 791 megawatts from Avangrid’s New England Wind 1 project, and up to 800 megawatts from the Vineyard Wind 2 project.
The SouthCoast Wind project will create 3,915 jobs, Avangrid’s New England Wind 1 project will generate 4,400 jobs, and the Vineyard Wind 2 project will provide 3,800 jobs, according to state officials.
“Offshore wind is a critical tool in fighting climate change,” said Massachusetts Commissioner of Energy Resources Elizabeth Mahony. “Every year of progress we make in fostering this important clean energy source is a step closer to ending our reliance on costly and polluting fossil fuels. Hot summers, stormy seas, and devastating floods are hitting communities across New England hard. We’re grateful to our partners in Rhode Island for joining together on the solution and I’m proud of my team for leading the state’s first direct procurement of offshore wind.”
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