Rhode Island Senate passes bill for 600 MW of offshore wind

June 9 (Renewables Now) – The Rhode Island State Senate has permitted a brand new invoice that may facilitate the deployment of 600 MW of offshore wind in state waters and convey some adjustments to the present legislation.

Invoice 2022-S 2583A can be handed to the Home of Representatives, the State of Rhode Island Normal Meeting introduced earlier this week.

The brand new laws requires the state’s predominant electrical energy and pure fuel provider Rhode Island Power to solicit bids for 600 MW of offshore wind capability that can be added to the state’s energy grid. It additionally units a brand new deadline for the market-competitive procurement, to be held by October 15, 2022, as an alternative of August 15, 2022, as initially deliberate.

Moreover, the invoice wipes off an incentive associated to ratepayers participation and in addition provides the state Public Utilities Fee larger authority to resolve on disputed objects within the contract between the utility and the developer. The laws additionally envisages a publicly clear utility course of and units necessities for offshore wind builders to supply info on potential environmental impacts by submitting environmental and fisheries mitigation plans and estimates of native financial advantages.

The legislation is consistent with the 2021 Act on Local weather, which units local weather emissions discount objectives finally aiming at net-zero emissions by 2050.

Rhode Island is dwelling to the primary US offshore wind farm, the 30-MW Block Island facility, and can be set to obtain 400 MW from the Revolution Wind offshore venture of Denmark’s Ørsted A/S and US utility Eversource Power.

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