Bay State Wind Submits Bid to for Offshore Wind Energy Generation

Bay State Wind, the partnership between Ørsted (formerly DONG Energy) and Eversource, submitted their bid on December 20, 2017, in response to the Massachusetts’ first RFP for offshore wind energy generation.

Ørsted, a world leader in wind energy, has pioneered and refined the approach to developing and constructing offshore wind farms since it launched the world’s first offshore wind farm in 1991. Eversource, New England’s largest energy provider, has led the region in the development of its electrical transmission network and will develop and construct the project’s onshore transmission system. Together the two companies bring their technical acumen, strong environmental record and unbeatable financial capacity to bear, creating an industry-leading offshore wind project for Massachusetts.

As included in its proposal, the Bay State Wind project will:

• Create up to 1200 new jobs within the commonwealth during construction and up to 10,800 direct and indirect jobs over the life of the project
• Provide 500,000 Massachusetts homes with clean, reliable and stable-priced power
• Deliver $300 million in savings per year in lower winter power costs
• Generate $30 million in lease payments, fees and taxes that will support local government functions over the operational lifespan
• Make $1 billion direct investment in the commonwealth
• Commit $17.5 million to support the commonwealth’s cornerstone programs for low income families
• Support the construction of the first purpose-built Jones Act-compliant installation and transportation vessels that will enable the greater utilization of Massachusetts ports and harbor facilities
• Promote and work with Massachusetts-based advanced manufacturing firms, as well as the many global industry leaders that have committed to working with Bay State Wind
• Partner with local educational institutions to develop and train the future offshore wind workforce

The project, which will be located 25 miles off of New Bedford, will be a significant distance away from the coast and residential communities. It will also include a 55 MW battery storage solution, the largest battery storage system ever deployed in conjunction with a wind farm, helping to ensure power is available during peak hours when it is needed most.