The Deepwater Wind development was rejected earlier this month by Rhode Island's Public Utilities Commission (PUC), which rejected the power purchase agreement underpinning an initial 20MW project. The PUC said the rate was too expensive.
The Senate bill will allow PPAs to bypass the PUC and be ratified by other state agencies. If it goes through it could set the project, which is ultimately looking to expand to around 400MW, back on course.
In 2009 Rhode Island signed a legally binding joint development agreement with Deepwater Wind for an offshore wind power development. The aim of the 20MW project at Block Island was prove its commercial viability of an eventual 400MW wind farm.
Boaters, court appeals, Indian rites - the nine-year saga of Cape Wind
