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.

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 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.

Public versions of the bids received in response to the Massachusetts Clean Energy 83C III RFP can be viewed in the 83C III Bids section of this website. Please note that the posting of public versions of bids received is subject to change, pending verification of full compliance with all submission requirements, as provided in the RFP. The site will be updated as necessary.

By this message, the Evaluation Team is informing bidders of changes in the underlying authority for the Section 83C Round 3 solicitation process/RFP. The RFP was filed and approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (“DPU”) pursuant to Section 83C of An Act Relative to Green Communities, St. 2008 c. 169, as amended by St. 2016, c. 188, § 12 (“Section 83C”) and in accordance with Section 21(a) of Chapter 227 of the Acts of 2018, following the Department of Energy Resource’s (“DOER”) direction to require the Electric Distribution Companies (“EDCs”) to solicit 1,600 MW of Offshore Wind Energy Generation. Following the filing of the RFP, the Massachusetts Legislature passed legislation that increased the total solicitation target (including future solicitations) for Offshore Wind Energy Generation to a mandatory 5,600 MW total solicitation target. (see Section 91 of Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021, An Act Creating a Next-Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts Climate Policy and Sections 69 and 72 of Chapter 24 of the Acts of 2021, An Act Making Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2022). The Evaluation Team has determined that the Section 83C Round 3 solicitation will now be conducted consistent with the provisions of Section 91 of Chapter 8 of the Acts of 2021 and Sections 69 and 72 of Chapter 24 of the Acts of 2021. Any Offshore Wind Energy Generation procured in this solicitation will count towards the statutory 5,600 MW total solicitation target. This change in authority does not impact, negate, or alter the terms of the RFP regarding bidders’ requirements and deliverables. The change in authority regarding the solicitation will be addressed in the EDCs’ filing with the DPU for its review and approval of any and all executed purchase power agreements following selection of bids submitted consistent with the RFP.