TuesdayAug4,2020at4:34PMAug4,2020at4:34PM

Dean of the Massachusetts Senate Marc R. Pacheco, D-Taunton, filed an amendment unanimously passed by the Massachusetts State Senate July 29 requiring a total solicitation of 6000 MW of Offshore Wind by 2035.

Offshore Wind is a critical source of renewable energy and a major piece to the foundation of our clean energy future here in the Commonwealth, said Pacheco, founding chair of the Senate Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change. According to recent estimates, Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind together offer approximately $2.5 billion in direct savings for Massachusetts ratepayers, over 9,000 new local jobs and the elimination of approximately 3.3 million metric tons of CO2 annually the equivalent of taking 675,000 cars off the road. I am extremely pleased to have secured the passage of this offshore wind amendment that will create new jobs, improve our public health with cleaner air, and help drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

The commonwealth currently has authorization to procure a total of 3200 MW of offshore wind under existing law, but the two 800MW projects by Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind already under agreement account for half of that capacity. Although Massachusetts was an early leader among the states to solicit offshore wind, New York, New Jersey and other states on the Atlantic coast have begun to contend for their own share of the offshore wind marketplace.

Amendment 139 of An Act enabling partnerships for growth sponsored by Pacheco, Offshore Wind Development, would upgrade the states procurement limit by requiring the solicitation of a total of 6000 MW of offshore wind by 2035, raising the existing level an additional 2800 MW.

Read more:

Amendment requiring 6000 MW of offshore wind by 2035 clears Senate - Wicked Local Bridgewater