This solicitation has concluded.

February 11, 2020

The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today submitted a filing letter requesting that the Department of Public Utilities approve the below-referenced long-term contracts, which are available at the DPU website here in dockets DPU 20-16, 20-17, or 20-18 for the Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil filings, respectively.

February 11, 2020

The Electric Distribution Companies (“EDCs”) announced that they have filed, on February 10, 2020, long-term contracts with Mayflower Wind Energy LLC for an 804 megawatt offshore wind generation project (“804 MW Low Cost Energy”) for review and approval by the Department of Public Utilities. The Mayflower Wind project was selected pursuant to the Section 83C Round II Procurement. To access to filing documents on the DPU website, click here and enter 20-16, 20-17, or 20-18 for the Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil  filings, respectively.”

January 14, 2020

On January 13, the Distribution Companies notified the Department and all interested stakeholders that the Distribution Companies and Mayflower Wind executed the final contracts on the evening of January 10, 2020.

The Distribution Companies will submit the contracts to the Department for approval in accordance with Section 83C no later than February 10, 2020. The Distribution Companies note that the final price for energy and environmental attributes under the executed contracts is consistent with the price offered under the selected Mayflower Wind “804 MW Low Cost Energy” proposal. Accordingly, the extension of the contract negotiation period from that initially anticipated under the Request for Proposals for Long-Term Contracts for Offshore Wind Energy Projects will not result in any price increase or delay in the project’s commercial operation date. Further details regarding the terms of the contracts will be provided at the time of filing.

December 16, 2019

On December 13, the Distribution Companies informed the Department of Public Utilities that the Distribution Companies are in the final stages of contract negotiation pursuant to Section 83C of the Green Communities Act, as added by Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016, An Act to Promote Energy Diversity.

October 30, 2019

The Distribution Companies and Department of Energy Resources have completed the evaluation of bids received in response to the Section 83C II Offshore Wind Energy Generation request for proposals (“Section 83C II RFP”). The bid evaluation process included monitoring and assistance by an Independent Evaluator. The Distribution Companies have already contacted all bidders regarding their proposals under the Section 83C II RFP.

Mayflower Wind was determined to be the winning bidder by the Distribution Companies. The “804 MW Low Cost Energy” project is the selected bid, which represents a purchase of approximately 800 MW Offshore Wind Energy capacity for the Commonwealth’s electric customers. The final acceptance of the bid and the award of a contract is conditional upon the successful negotiation of the contract and required regulatory approvals.

August 22, 2019

The Evaluation Team will be receiving confidential bids on Friday, August 23^rd, in response to the Request for Proposals for 83C II.  Once public proposals are received on Friday, August 30^th, they will be posted to the website as quickly as possible.

August 7, 2019

On August 5, 2019, the Distribution Companies, in coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and the Independent Evaluator, submitted a report to the Department of Public Utilities (“Department”) describing the impact of the recent change in law to Section 83C on the current solicitation.  After reviewing the report, the Department issued a Letter Order on August 6^th finding that the report “describes an appropriate response to the change in law that is consistent with the directives and standards in the Department’s [May 17, 2019 order in D.P.U. 19-45].”  Accordingly, an updated RFP, CPPD, Bid Fee Submittal Form, and revised Q & A have been posted to the Section 83C II website to appropriately reflect the change in law.

August 5, 2019

The Distribution Companies, in coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) and the Independent Evaluator (“IE”), submitted the attached report (“Report”) with the Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) on August 5, 2019, acknowledging the recent amendment to Section 83C of the Green Communities Act, St. 2008, c. 169, temporarily removing the price cap requirement referenced in May 23, 2019 Request for Proposals for Offshore Wind Energy Projects (“RFP”). The Report notes that the Distribution Companies and DOER are revising the Due Date for Submission of Confidential Proposals from August 9, 2019 to August 23, 2019. The Due Date for Submission of Public Proposals will be moved from August 16, 2019 to August 30, 2019. This revision is intended to provide sufficient time for all prospective bidders to revise their bids, if necessary, to account for the change in law. No other revisions to the timetable are proposed at this time. The Report also notes that the Distribution Companies, in coordination with the DOER and the IE, will post an updated RFP with conforming changes. The updated RFP will be posted to the Section 83C II website upon the issuance of acknowledgement by the DPU of receipt of the Report and the revised Due Dates noted therein.

May 23, 2019

On May 23, 2019 the Massachusetts Electric Distribution companies, in coordination with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, issued an RFP for Long-term Contracts for Offshore Wind Energy Projects pursuant to Section 83C of Chapter 169 of the Acts of 2008, as amended by chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016, An Act to Promote Energy Diversity.

Visit the 83C II Documents, 83C II Timeline, 83C II Bidder Conference and 83C II Q&A sections for more information.