Rhode Island has launched a new tender for 600MW of offshore wind.
Capacity awarded in the request for proposals (RFP) will add to its existing 30MW operational offshore wind fleet and 400MW pipeline.
It will also help towards the state’s target of sourcing 100% of its electricity demand from renewables by 2030.
Since 2016, the state in the north-east United States has increased its renewable energy portfolio nine-fold to 933MW.
Rhode Island is home to North America’s first operational offshore wind farm, the 30MW Block Island Block Island (30MW) OffshoreNew Shoreham, Rhode Island, USA, North America Click to see full detailsproject.
And in a previous tender, its state utility National Grid agreed to buy output from 400MW of Ørsted and Eversouce’s 704MW Revolution Wind Revolution Wind (704MW) OffshoreRhode Island, USA, North America Click to see full details project.
A draft RFP will be filed with state regulators and – with approval from the state’s Public Utilities Commission – it would be issued to the marketplace in early-2021, with any contracts for offshore wind projects from the competitive process needing separate regulatory approvals.
