This solicitation has concluded.

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The Distribution Companies and Department of Energy Resources have completed the evaluation of bids received in response to the Section 83D Clean Energy request for proposals (“Section 83D 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 83D RFP.

Northern Pass Transmission, Hydro was determined to be the winning bid, which represents an annual purchase of approximately 9,450,000 megawatt-hours of clean energy generation 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 approval at the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities, as provided in the Section 83D RFP. If the bid selected to advance to contract negotiation at this stage does not successfully negotiate contracts, it may result in other bid(s) being selected to advance to contract negotiations.

Correspondence to the EDCs regarding the status of the Northern Pass  Project

On February 1, 2018, the New Hampshire Site Evaluation Committee (NHSEC) voted unanimously to deny the Northern Pass project a Certificate of Site and Facility. In order to fully assess the potential impacts of the NHSEC vote, the Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) sent a letter on February 2, 2018 requesting that the Electric Distributions Companies (“EDCs”) send a communication to the Northern Pass Project seeking an update on the status of the project in light of this vote. Further, DOER requested that the EDCs meet with the DOER and the Independent Evaluator no later than February 9th to discuss the matter. The Independent Evaluator also received a copy of this letter.

February 16, 2018

The Department of Energy Resources (“DOER”) provides this update on the Section 83D of the Act Relative to Green Communities (“Section 83D”) Request for Proposals for Clean Energy (“RFP”) along with an overview of Section 83D and the solicitation process in the RFP.

March 28, 2018

The Electric Distributions Companies (“EDCs”) have terminated the conditional selection of the Northern Pass Hydro project (“NPT Hydro”).  The EDCs are in the process of concluding contract negotiations with the New England Clean Energy Connect 100% Hydro project (“NECEC Hydro”) and intend to execute agreements with NECEC Hydro for submittal to the Department of Public Utilities, assuming negotiations are concluded successfully.

April 25, 2018

On April 25, 2018, the Distribution Companies informed the Department of Public Utilities that the Distribution Companies are in the final stages of contract negotiation pursuant to Section 83D of the Green Communities Act, as added by Chapter 188 of the Acts of 2016, An Act to Promote Energy Diversity.

June 14, 2018

The Electric Distribution Companies (“EDC”) announced on June 14, 2018 that they have successfully concluded negotiations and executed long-term contracts with Central Maine Power Company and HQ Energy Services (US) Inc. for the New England Clean Energy Connect 100% Hydro project (“NECEC Hydro”), which was selected pursuant to the Section 83D Procurement.  The EDC will be seeking approval from the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities for the executed long-term contracts and will be making a filing in the coming weeks.

July 23, 2018

The Electric Distribution Companies (“EDCs”) announced today, July 23, 2018, that they have filed long-term contracts with Central Maine Power Company and H.Q. Energy Services (U.S.) Inc. for the New England Clean Energy Connect 100% Hydro project (“NECEC Hydro”) for review and approval by the Department of Public Utilities. The NECEC Hydro project was selected pursuant to the Section 83D Procurement. To access to filing documents on the DPU website, click here and enter 18-64, 18-65, or 18-66.

The Department of Energy Resources (DOER) today submitted a filing letter requesting that the Department of Public Utilities approve the above referenced long-term contracts for renewable resources pursuant to Section 83D.

For more information about events, progress, and regulatory approvals, please see the Timeline section on this website, and check back for updates.