production goal

The letter accompanies Boston Pacific Company's report, which reviews  terms and conditions for long-term contracts for renewable ocean energy projects. 

The Governor's Office of Energy Independence and Security (OEIS) recommends eliminating the statutory goal of 2,000 MW of installed wind capacity by 2015, but retaining the statutory goals of 3,000 MW of installed wind capacity by 2020 (including 300 MW from offshore wind sources) and 8,000 MW of installed wind capacity by 2030 (including 5,000 MW from offshore wind sources) until a comprehensive reasssessment can be completed.

The report reviews terms and conditions for long-term contracts for renewable ocean energy projects.  The report recommends that Maine: a) use competitive procurement and a pay-for-performance structure; b) require applicants to submit a cost-benefit analysis for each project; c) create a carve-out in Maine's renewable energy portfolio standard (RPS) for the purchase of ocean energy renewable energy credits (ORECs); d) include a rate impact limit; and, e) issue by January 1, 2014 a request for proposals (RFP) for 300 MW of offshore wind.

The law requires National Grid to sign a long-term contract (at least 10 years) to buy up to 150 MW from utility-scale offshore wind energy facilities developed off the coast of Rhode Island.

Link to Rhode Island Legislature website:  Section 39-26.1-8 page

The law authorizes National Grid to enter into an amended power purchase agreement with Deepwater Wind for a demonstration project of up to 8 wind turbines with aggregate nameplate capacity of less than 30 MW.  The project must include a transmission cable between the Town of New Shoreham (Block Island) and the mainland. 

Link to Rhode Island Legislature website:  Section 39-26.1-7 page

Stakeholder comments on proposed rules for implementation of New Jersey Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA), from: New Jersery Division of Rate Counsel; AREVA; Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC); Fishermen's Energy of New Jersey (FERN); Garden State Offshore Energy (GSOE); General Electric (GE); NRG Bluewater Wind; OffshoreMW; Mid-Atlantic Renewable Energy Coalition (MAREC); Retail Energy Supply Association (RESA); NJ Sierra Club; and, NJ Business & Industry Association (NJBIA).

The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) proposes a pilot competitive production incentive and financing program to encourage the development of an offshore wind renewable electricity generation pilot project with an aggregate capacity not to exceed 350 MW. A maximum of 10% of the total grant production credit may be requested under the grant solicitation to be paid in the form of an upfront payment for design, engineering, and permitting costs. Expected timeframe for production credit is no longer than five years.

This Request for Proposals (RFP) solicits proposals for a private partner to move forward with the Rhode Island Energy Independence I project. The project would supply not less than 1.3 million megawatt-hours per year (or 15% of the energy consumed by Rhode Island's electricity customers).

NJ Board of Public Utilities' (BPU) draft structure of an offshore wind set-aside, or “carve-out”, within New Jersey’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), which calls for 1000 MW by 2012 and 3000 MW by 2020.