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Wind power in Massachusetts

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Massachusetts Maritime Academy
wind turbine
IBEW wind turbine along I-93

The U.S. state of Massachusetts has vast wind energy resources offshore, as well as significant resources onshore. The 2016 update to the states's Clean Energy and Climate Plan had a goal of reducing 1990 baseline greenhouse gas emissions levels by 25% by 2020.[1] Current goals include installing 3,500 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind power in the state by 2035.[2] However, as of Q4 2021 the state had only 120 MW of wind powered electricity generating capacity, responsible for generating 0.9% of in-state electricity production. The state has awarded contracts to two offshore projects, the 800 MW Vineyard Wind project and 804 MW Mayflower Wind project.[3] Construction began on the Vineyard Wind 1 project on November 18, 2021, after a long fight for approval.[4] Commonwealth Wind was selected for development in 2021, but the developer has attempted to cancel the project due to increased costs. There are eight projects planned for off the southern coast of Massachusetts, though some will deliver power to Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New York.[5]

Notable onshore projects

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Installed in 2005, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 100 kW wind turbine along I-93 south of Boston drew attention to wind power to tens of thousands of commuters.[6] In 2009, a similar wind turbine was installed along I93 north of Boston, in Medford, expected to generate 170,000 kWh/year.[7][8]

A GE Wind Energy 1.5 MW turbine was the first wind turbine to be installed at a ski resort in the United States of America at Jiminy Peak in Hancock, MA. The turbine, installed in 2007, is visible from many of the slopes on the mountain and it produces 4,600 MWh annually, about one third of the facilities electricity demands.[9]

At the Joint Base Cape Cod three turbines generate power for the base and construction is underway for two additional 1.68 MW turbines to power the radar unit. The three, soon to be five, turbines are highly visible from both the Bourne Bridge and the Sagamore Bridge looking to the East. The turbines have resulted in significant savings for the base, the turbines also do not generate any controversy because they are located well within the base boundaries far from civilian homes.[10]

In June 2017, the Massachusetts courts shut down two town-owned 1.65-megawatt wind turbines in Falmouth, Massachusetts. Each turbine generates up to 110 decibels of noise requiring almost 3000-foot setback. The decibel level for two wind turbines operating at the same time is unknown. Massachusetts has twenty-one communities with noise and alleged shadow flicker health issues. The neighbors describe the noise as torture. The Town of Falmouth in November 2019 approved 2.5 million to disassemble and store the wind turbines. The turbines were designed in the late 1990s and have the original gearboxes and blades.[11]

Offshore wind

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See also: List of offshore wind farms in the United States
A map showing lease areas off the New England coast as of 2022
Wind energy lease areas off the southern coasts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island as of October 2022

Cape Wind was an offshore wind farm that would have produced 450 MW, enough electricity to power nearly 420,000 homes using 130 wind turbines,[12] The project made its first federal filings in 2001, and faced a lengthy federal, state, and municipal permitting processes and considerable local controversy because of its location (in federal waters) between Cape Cod, Nantucket, and Martha's Vineyard, within sight of the mainland. It was cancelled in 2017 after losing utility support.

On August 8, 2016 the Massachusetts governor signed Bill H.4568 which mandates that Massachusetts utilities obtain 1.6 GW of offshore wind power by 2027.[13][14] Policy also mandated that utilities acquire 1.2 GW of power from other renewable sources, including onshore wind.[15]

On December 14, 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) opened bids for leases on three parcels, each 13,000 acres, located in federal waters south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. The three tentative winners, subject to final negotiations, were:

The auction raised a total of $405 million. The three areas could support 4.1 gigawatts of wind nameplate power, according to BOEM estimates.[17]

In April 2019, Vineyard Wind was awarded a contract to supply 800 MW of power to Massachusetts utilities at a price of 8.9 cents/kWh and will also spend $15 million on battery systems for energy storage.[18] They plan to install 84 turbines, with their power line running between the Vineyard and Nantucket to Covell Beach in Centerville, and from there via land to the grid.[19] The vessels used must comply with the Jones Act.[20] Final major federal approval was granted on May 11, 2021.[21] Power from the first turbine started flowing into the ISO New England grid on January 2, 2024.[22] Construction is expected to be complete by the end of 2024.[22]

Commonwealth Wind (lease area OCS-A 0534)[23] was selected for development in 2021, and signed agreements with all three major Massachusetts electric utilities - Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil.[24] In 2022, developer Avangrid asked that its project be canceled and rebid due to higher supply costs. The Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities rejected this request and approved the Commonwealth Wind and Mayflower Wind agreements instead.[25] A Mayflower Wind cable is expected to come ashore at the site of the former coal-powered Brayton Point Power Station,[26] which already has transmission infrastructure.

The Park City Wind project[27] would supply power to Connecticut but land cables in Barnstable on Cape Cod. Avangrid attempted to renegotiate its agreement with Connecticut due to cost increases.[26]

The proposed offshore Bay State Wind project failed to arrange purchasing agreements in Massachusetts. The joint venture between Eversource and Ørsted proposed a new design called Revolution Wind 2, to supply clean electricity to Rhode Island Energy.[28]

Current state support

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The state has implemented policy and infrastructure to support efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These policies and infrastructure are partially focused on promoting on- and off-shore wind power.

Policy

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Main article: Climate change in Massachusetts

Green Communities Act (2008): created a commission to provide technical and financial support to reduce energy costs, strengthen local economies, and support renewable energy efforts.[2]

Green Jobs Act (2008): created the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), which is a state authority designated for “job development and economic development in the clean energy sector.” The Act created the Alternative and Clean Energy Investment Trust Fund to further this economic development.[29]

Global Warming Solutions Act (2008): requires reduction in 1990 greenhouse gas emission levels to 25% by 2020, and at least an 80% reduction by 2050. Policy information and figures depicting state progress can be viewed on the Mass.gov website.[30]

New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal

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Main article: New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal

The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal is the first hub in the country designed for the deployment of offshore wind farms.[31] The terminal is managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center which supports the fabrication and implementation of offshore wind projects and the transportation of large scale marine cargo. The Terminal contains 26 acres of storage space that can be used by businesses and to aid shipping and transportation. Besides the auxiliary I-195 interstate running directly through New Bedford's downtown, it also has access roads to two highways, I-495 and I-95, and is accessible from other ports.[32]

Wind Technology Testing Center (WTTC)

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Massachusetts Wind Technology Testing Center

The Massachusetts Wind Technology Testing Center in Charlestown is managed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. The center offers testing for blades up to 90 meters long and different prototyping methods in order to support the production and installation of land and offshore wind turbines. The blade testing is required for turbines to meet international qualifications and to be certified for use.[33]

Charlie Baker administration (2015–2023)

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Main article: Governorship of Charlie Baker

In July 2015, the administration of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that Baker filed legislation to require the state to procure 1,600 megawatts of offshore wind power, as well as 1,200 megawatts of hydropower.[34] In March 2016, the legislation received the endorsement of all three of the Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretaries of the Deval Patrick administration,[35] and the following August, Baker signed the legislation into law.[36] In September 2016, Baker's administration announced that the offshore wind companies Deepwater Wind, DONG Energy, and OffshoreMW agreed to use the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal built during the Patrick administration as a staging area for their projects.[37] In June 2017, Massachusetts utilities issued the first RFP under the energy diversification law signed by Baker in August 2016,[38] and the following month, five major bids were submitted.[39]

In May 2018, Baker's administration selected Vineyard Wind to construct an 800-megawatt offshore wind farm off the southern coast of Martha's Vineyard,[40] and the following October, Vineyard Wind announced that it had signed an 18-month lease to also conduct their staging operations at the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal.[41] In December 2018, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced the sale of three wind lease plots of 390,000 acres of ocean south of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard to Equinor Wind, Mayflower Wind, and Vineyard Wind for a national record of $405 million that the agency estimated could generate as much as 4,100 megawatts of wind power.[42] In May 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced that a record of decision had been issued giving final federal approval for the Vineyard Wind project.[43]

An Offshore Wind Study published in mid-2020 analyzed procuring an additional 1.6 GW of off-shore capacity in addition to the 1.6 GW already in progress.[44]

In late 2020, the Baker Administration released a Decarbonization Roadmap that aims for net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The plan calls for major investments in offshore wind and solar energy.[45][46]

Capacity

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Installed

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The following table shows the growth in wind power installed nameplate capacity in MW for Massachusetts since 1999.[47][48][49][50][51]

Year Amount (MW) Change (MW) % Change
1999 0.3 0
2000 0.3 0 0%
2001 1 0.7 233%
2002 1 0 0%
2003 1 0 0%
2004 1 0 0%
2005 1.1 0.1 10%
2006 3.5 2.4 218%
2007 5 1.5 43%
2008 5.7 0.7 14%
2009 15 9 163%
2010 17.7 2.7 18%
2011 47 29.3 166%
2012 103 56 119%
2013 106 3 3%
2014 107 1 1%
2015 107 0 0%
2016 115 8 7%
2017 115 0 0%
2018 113 -2 -2%
2019 120 7 6%
2020 120 0 0%
Offshore Wind Power Capacity

Potential

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In early 2010, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory released the first comprehensive update of wind energy potential by state since 1993, showing that Massachusetts had potential to install 1,028 MW of onshore wind power, using 80 meter high wind turbines,[52] and 1,913 MW of 100 MW wind turbines could achieve 30% or better capacity factor - and of those, almost 500 MW could reach a capacity factor of 40%.[53]

Locations

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In 2009, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) contracted Navigant Consulting to determine new locations of potential wind turbine sites throughout the state. The study identified 44 locations with 947 MW of potential power. The locations are centrally focused in the Berkshire and Barnstable counties.[54] The Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs has this information publicly available with a Wind Energy Site Screening Tool.[55]

Imports

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To meet renewable power minimums and with state approval, Massachusetts utilities agreed to pay for 40% of the output of the proposed King Pine wind farm in Aroostook County, Maine developed by Longroad Energy. As of January 2023 was approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission but required further design and approval of the transmission line developed by LS Power of New York.[56]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ eea (2016-01-19). "Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan for 2020". Energy and Environmental Affairs. Archived from the original on 2017-09-16. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  2. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-02-15. Retrieved 2017-10-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Massachusetts Wind Energy" (PDF). U.S. Wind Energy State Facts. American Wind Energy Association. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  4. ^ Frangoul, Anmar (November 19, 2021). "Construction starts at America's first major offshore wind farm". CNBC. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  5. ^ "Offshore wind farms off Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard: A guide of what to know". Cape Cod Times. Archived from the original on 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2023-01-30.
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  7. ^ "Medford readies wind turbine at site along I-93". Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  8. ^ "Medford Clean Energy Committee". Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  9. ^ "Wind Turbine FAQ - Family activities in New England | Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort - Hancock, Massachusetts, MA". Archived from the original on 2013-09-18. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  10. ^ "Two more turbines coming soon to cape base". September 7, 2013. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  11. ^ "Falmouth Town Meeting Approves Funding to Dismantle Town's Turbines". Archived from the original on 2019-12-22. Retrieved 2020-04-03.
  12. ^ "Cape Wind - America's First Offshore Wind Farm". Archived from the original on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  13. ^ "Massachusetts passes bill easing path for 1.6 GW of offshore wind". Archived from the original on 6 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  14. ^ "Bill H.4568". Archived from the original on 2016-11-28. Retrieved 2016-08-02.
  15. ^ "Massachusetts passes bill easing path for 1.6GW of offshore wind". Archived from the original on 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  16. ^ "Project". Beacon Wind. September 18, 2023.
  17. ^ Gerdes, Justin (December 17, 2018). "Record-Breaking Massachusetts Offshore Wind Auction Reaps $405 Million in Winning Bids". Green Tech Media. Archived from the original on June 10, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  18. ^ Geuss, Megan (April 24, 2019). "Massachusetts offshore wind project gets green light at roughly 8.9 cents/kWh". Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2019.]
  19. ^ Gellerman, Bruce (January 19, 2021). "Offshore Wind Backers Hope Vineyard Wind Permitting Woes Will End Under Biden". WBUR. Archived from the original on 2021-01-19. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  20. ^ Mercure, Matthew (31 March 2021). "Vineyard Wind Selects Contractor for Transport, Installation of Turbines | North American Windpower". nawindpower.com. Archived from the original on 26 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Biden administration grants Vineyard Wind its final major permit". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on 2021-05-20. Retrieved 2021-05-28.
  22. ^ a b Sabrina Shankman (January 3, 2024). "With a flip of the switch, offshore wind energy enters New England's grid". The Boston Globe.
  23. ^ "Commonwealth Wind". Commonwealth Wind. August 3, 2023.
  24. ^ Seonwoo, Eunki (December 28, 2022). "Commonwealth Wind wants to back out of contracts".
  25. ^ Service, Colin A. Young | State House News (January 2, 2023). "DPU rejects bid to scrap wind contracts, approves them instead". Salem News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ a b "Offshore wind projects face uncertainty with existing contracts. Cape Codders respond". Cape Cod Times.
  27. ^ "Park City Wind". Park City Wind. August 3, 2023.
  28. ^ "Developers pitch new wind power project, enough to power 500,000 R.I. homes - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com.
  29. ^ "The Green Jobs Act of 2008 | Massachusetts' Businesses for Clean Energy". www.mabizforcleanenergy.com. Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  30. ^ eea (2012-05-09). "Massachusetts Global Warming Solutions Act (GWSA)". Energy and Environmental Affairs. Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  31. ^ "Massachusetts Offshore Wind Energy Hub Gets The Green Light". Archived from the original on 2023-02-15. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  32. ^ "New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal". Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. 30 May 2017. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2017.
  33. ^ "Wind Technology Testing Center". Mass CEC. 5 March 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-10-30. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  34. ^ "Baker-Polito Administration Files Hydropower Legislation to Increase Access to Clean, Cost-Effective Renewable Energy". www.mass.gov. July 9, 2015. Archived from the original on March 16, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  35. ^ Dezenski, Lauren (March 23, 2016). "Baker musters energy secretaries to push action on hydro bill". Politico. Capitol News Company. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  36. ^ Schoenberg, Shira (August 8, 2016). "Gov. Charlie Baker signs hydropower, wind energy bill into law". MassLive.com. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  37. ^ Serreze, Mary C. (September 6, 2016). "Offshore wind developers agree to use New Bedford Marine Terminal". MassLive.com. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  38. ^ Serreze, Mary C. (July 3, 2017). "Massachusetts utilities release first offshore wind RFP under new state energy law". MassLive.com. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  39. ^ Serreze, Mary C. (July 28, 2017). "5 major transmission, hydro and wind partners bid into Massachusetts Clean Energy RFP". MassLive.com. Advance Publications. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  40. ^ Murphy, Matt (May 23, 2018). "Mass. Selects Vineyard Wind For 800-Megawatt Offshore Wind Farm". WBUR. Archived from the original on June 21, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  41. ^ "Vineyard Wind Signs Lease For Staging Operations In New Bedford". WBUR. October 22, 2018. Archived from the original on November 15, 2018. Retrieved November 15, 2018.
  42. ^ Moran, Barbara (December 14, 2018). "Offshore Wind Auction For 390,000 Acres South Of Mass. Blows Through Sale Record". WBUR. Archived from the original on December 18, 2018. Retrieved December 17, 2018.
  43. ^ Frangoul, Anmar (May 12, 2021). "'A huge moment': U.S. gives go-ahead for its first major offshore wind farm". CNBC. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  44. ^ "Massachusetts Offshore Wind Study, 2020". Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  45. ^ Martin, Naomi (December 30, 2020). "Mass. to require all new cars sold to be electric by 2035 as part of climate-change measures". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on January 26, 2021. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  46. ^ "Massachusetts 2050 Decarbonization Roadmap". Archived from the original on 2021-01-01. Retrieved 2021-01-05.
  47. ^ Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2010-03-05). "U.S. Installed Wind Capacity and Wind Project Locations". United States Department of Energy. Archived from the original on 2014-03-14. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  48. ^ Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (2010-02-04). "Installed Wind Capacity by State". United States Department of Energy. Archived from the original on 2011-10-16. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
  49. ^ "U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation". WINDExchange. U.S. Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office. Archived from the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
  50. ^ "Wind Energy in Massachusetts". Archived from the original on 2020-08-05. Retrieved 2020-05-07.
  51. ^ "WINDExchange: U.S. Installed and Potential Wind Power Capacity and Generation". Archived from the original on 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2019-03-07.
  52. ^ National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2010-02-04). "State wind energy potential (2010)". U.S. Department of Energy. Archived from the original on 2013-05-30. Retrieved 2010-03-27.
  53. ^ "WINDExchange: Massachusetts Wind Resource Map and Potential Wind Capacity". Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2012-05-15.
  54. ^ doer (2009-06-12). "Locating Wind Sites - Resources". Energy and Environmental Affairs. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  55. ^ "Wind Energy Site Screening Tool". Archived from the original on 2017-10-17. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  56. ^ Writer, Tux TurkelStaff (January 31, 2023). "Northern Maine wind power project wins PUC approval". Press Herald.
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