Transmission & Grid Interconnection

Unitil, National Grid and Eversource Energy are seeking to procure a total of 400 MW of offshore wind energy generation. This solicitation also allows bidders to offer proposals for up to approximately 800 MW, and the companies will consider procuring up to approximately 800 MW if the Evaluation Team determines that a larger-scaled proposal is both superior to other proposals submitted in response to this RFP and is likely to produce significantly more economic net benefits to ratepayers based on the evaluation criteria set forth in this RFP. To support development of the offshore wind energy market, the companies are seeking proposals that include expandable, nondiscriminatory, open-access offshore transmission facilities for the efficient delivery of their power to the Onshore Transmission System.

This revised RFP addresses the definition of "Offshore Delivery Facilities" as well as spelling, grammar, and spacing issues.

Unitil, National Grid and Eversource Energy are seeking to procure a total of 400 MW of offshore wind energy generation. This solicitation also allows bidders to offer proposals for up to approximately 800 MW, and the companies will consider procuring up to approximately 800 MW if the Evaluation Team determines that a larger-scaled proposal is both superior to other proposals submitted in response to this RFP and is likely to produce significantly more economic net benefits to ratepayers based on the evaluation criteria set forth in this RFP. To support development of the offshore wind energy market, the companies are seeking proposals that include expandable, nondiscriminatory, open-access offshore transmission facilities for the efficient delivery of their power to the Onshore Transmission System.

Offshore wind energy will play an important role in helping New York State achieve its clean energy goals. To develop this valuable resource responsibly and thoughtfully, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is crafting an Offshore Wind Master Plan to outline the State’s comprehensive offshore wind strategy. NYSERDA is issuing an RFP to establish a pool of qualified contractors to assist with the development of the Offshore Wind Master Plan and associated offshore wind energy activities in New York. Proposals are due by Jan. 12, 2017.

The purpose is to assess the estimated economic impact of a 40 MW demonstration offshore wind farm off South Carolina, including electric rate impacts.

From the Introduction and Overview: "This report was prepared to make certain that the Commission's offshore wind procurement, evaluation, and selection process (i) is as fair, transparent, and workable as possible, (ii) leads to robust and competitive bids, and (iii) preserves the ratepayer protections defined in the Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2013."

The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center issues a request for proposals for consulting services on an offshore wind transmission project. The project would provide a transmission cable from a potential offshore wind project in the Wind Energy Area leased out by BOEM to the grid on the mainland. 

Cape Wind announces that Prysmian Cables and Systems USA and Caldwell Marine International will be involved in providing the transmission cables that will carry the electricity produced by Cape Wind to the grid. Caldwell Marine will install the submarine intra array and export cables. Prysmian Cables will construct the grid interconnection. 

In response to comments from residents of the Town of Narragansett, Deepwater Wind modified the plans for the transmission line connecting Block Island to the mainland. The revised plan buries a .8 mile segment of the transmission line in Narragansett. This document submitted to the US Army Corps of Engineers is a modification to the project’s environmental report. .

On March 13, 2014, National Grid declared an intent to purchase the assets of Deepwater Wind Block Island Transmission System LLC.  The Rhode Island Division of Public Utilities and Carriers then had 20 days to review National Grid’s filing, and hired La Capra Associates to advise the Division. This memo provides the results of the review.