Author: RFP Admin

Request for Public Comment

February 10, 2023

Request for Public Comment on 83C Round 4 Solicitation for Offshore Wind Energy Projects by the Massachusetts Distribution Companies & the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources

The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER), the Massachusetts Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs), and the Attorney General’s Office (AGO) (collectively “RFP Drafting Parties”) are seeking public comments on the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a fourth-round solicitation for offshore wind energy projects under Section 83C (“83C Round 4”). The RFP Drafting Parties have provided a set of questions to solicit input from interested parties and stakeholders on specific questions of interest related to 83C Round 4.

Interested parties and stakeholders are invited to provide comments in response to the prompts below and/or on any other topics related to 83C Round 4. Comments are also welcomed with specific reference to sections of the last RFP solicitation, 83C Round 3, available here. Whenever possible, please provide explanations or justifications for any recommendations provided. Please note that the RFP Drafting Parties will consider comments in drafting the RFP but not otherwise respond to comments received.

Submission Instructions: Please submit all comments via email to Marian Swain (Deputy Director of Policy and Planning at DOER) via email to Marian.Swain@mass.gov as soon as possible, but no later than 5:00pm on Wednesday, March 1, 2023. Please include “83C Round 4 Comments” and the name of the individual or organization submitting comments in the subject line.

Confidentiality: Please note that all comments received will be posted publicly on the MACleanEnergy.com webpage following the submission deadline; unless a party indicates its submission contains proprietary or commercially sensitive business information that should be treated as confidential energy information, to the extent permitted by law.  Such submissions should be clearly marked “CONFIDENTIAL” and submitted along with a public version with any such confidential information redacted.  Commenters are encouraged to limit redactions to the extent possible. Pursuant to DOER’s authority under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 25A, Section 7, and Section 83C certain energy and other information collected by DOER can be maintained for the sole and confidential use of the Commonwealth, its agencies, and offices. DOER may also apply any applicable exemption under the Commonwealth’s public records law. DOER shall also confidentially provide any and all confidential comments or responses to the Massachusetts Electric Distribution Companies, the Office of the Attorney General, the Independent Evaluator, and possibly to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (collectively, the “Massachusetts Parties”) in a manner as determined by DOER, in its sole discretion.  In the event confidential information is submitted to DOER and confidential treatment is not afforded for any reason, by a governmental agency or otherwise, or any confidential information is inadvertently made public, DOER and the Massachusetts Parties shall not be held responsible.

Link to questions

*Correction* 83C III: Long-Term Contracts Filed for DPU Approval

The Electric Distribution Companies (“EDCs”) announced that they have filed, on May 25, 2022, long-term contracts with Mayflower Wind for a 405 megawatt offshore wind generation project and Commonwealth Wind for a 1,200 megawatt offshore wind generation project for review and approval by the Department of Public Utilities. The Mayflower Wind and Commonwealth Wind projects were selected pursuant to the Section 83C Round III Procurement. To access to filing documents on the DPU website, click here and enter 22-70, 22-71 or 22-72 for the Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil filings, respectively.

83C III Contracts Executed

The Electric Distribution Companies (“EDCs”) have executed agreements with Commonwealth Wind LLC and Mayflower Wind LLC.  The EDCs are in the process of developing the filing to be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities for its review of the agreements and anticipate submitting that filing within the next several weeks.

Visit 83C III for more information.

The Distribution Companies and Department of Energy Resources Have Completed the Evaluation of 83C III Bids Received

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

Mayflower Wind and Vineyard Wind have been notified that they were determined to be the winning bidders by the Distribution Companies. Vineyard Wind’s Commonwealth Wind 1200 MW proposal and Mayflower Wind’s 400 MW proposal present a portfolio which meets the RFP’s stated target of up to 1600 MW. The final acceptance of the bids and the award of contracts is conditional upon the successful negotiation of the contracts and required regulatory approvals.

Visit the 83C III Documents, 83C III Timeline, and 83C III Bids sections for more information.