The US state of Rhode Island will issue a competitive solicitation for up to 600MW of additional offshore wind capacity, governor Gina Raimondo has announced, with National Grid US, the state’s dominant electric utility, named to develop the conditions and terms.

“In January, I set a nation-leading goal for Rhode Island to meet 100% of its electricity demand with renewables by 2030,” said Raimondo. “Offshore wind will help us achieve that bold but achievable goal, while creating jobs and cementing our status as a major hub in the nation’s burgeoning offshore wind industry.”

Raimondo’s office said National Grid US will develop the guidelines for the request for proposals (RFP) with supervision by the state Office of Energy Resources. Plans call for filing a draft document this fall with the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission, which will have final approval.

Her administration hopes to launch the solicitation in early-2021 on the heels of those for up-to-2.5GW by New York and between 1.2GW and 2.4GW by New Jersey.

Until now, east coast states procuring offshore wind capacity through competitive solicitations have not allowed an investor-owned utility to have as large a role in the process as National Grid US, which will also be the likely buyer of the power.

Rhode Island, the smallest US state, launched North America’s offshore wind sector in 2016 with the five-turbine, 30MW Block Island array in state waters.

Two years later, the state selected Orsted and Eversource Energy to supply 400MW capacity from their planned 704MW Revolution Wind project in a federal lease area off the coasts of Rhode Island and Massachusetts. National Grid US is buying the electricity from both projects under 20-year contracts.

The US Energy Information Administration estimates the potential for offshore wind power off the lower-50 states’ coasts at 7200TWh. Fully developed, this resource would translate into hundreds of projects of a scale similar to those already sanctioned, with analyst Rystad calculating each development would call for investments of an average $3bn.

Wind

US' smallest state adds to big offshore wind ambitions with plan for new tender