Massachusetts and Rhode Island Select Offshore Wind Projects
Massachusetts and Rhode Island have announced the selection of three offshore wind projects totaling 2,878 MW, which will provide power to approximately 1.4 million homes. The projects are part of a broader effort to meet state renewable energy goals and combat climate change.
| Score | Value |
|---|---|
Scale | 8 |
Novelty | 5 |
Positivity | 7 |
Reliability | 8 |
Actionability | 3 |
Society | 8 |
Journalism | 4 |
Highlights
- Massachusetts and Rhode Island have selected 2,878 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind power from three projects.
- The selected projects include SouthCoast Wind, New England Wind 1, and Vineyard Wind 2.
- The offshore wind projects are expected to power approximately 1.4 million homes.
- Construction on the projects is slated to begin in 2025, with power expected to flow by 2030.
- The total energy procurements fell short of the 6,000 MW originally envisioned for the tri-state partnership.
Perspectives
- Despite the announcement of new offshore wind projects, there are concerns that the total energy procurements fell significantly short of the initial goals set by state officials, indicating challenges in the offshore wind industry. [4][6][8]
- Officials express optimism that the selected offshore wind projects will create thousands of jobs and significantly contribute to clean energy generation, marking a historic milestone for the region's energy landscape. [3][4][7]