On December 17, 2021, Massachusetts announced the selection of two offshore wind projects, Mayflower Wind and Vineyard Wind, totaling 1,600 MW of new capacity.[1] The selected projects, in combination with two previous projects, bring the total amount of offshore wind procured by the state to approximately 3,200 MW. The announcement brings Massachusetts closed to its goal of procuring 5,600 MW of offshore wind by 2027. Vineyard Wind and Mayflower Wind are both joint ventures of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners and Avangrid Renewables. Vineyard Wind received a 1,200 MW contract, in addition to its previous 800 MW contract. Separately, Mayflower, received a 400 MW contract, in addition to its 800 MW project in the state. The developers already had approval from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Management (BOEM) to build out their lease areas. The full capacity of Mayflower Wind’s lease is 2,000 MW, though only 1,200 MW is currently contracted.

On the same day as Massachusett’s announcement, the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) awarded offtake agreements to U.S. Wind and Skipjack Offshore energy for a combined 1,654.5 MW, bringing the state’s total to 2,022 MW.[2] Maryland’s 2019 Clean Energy Jobs Act expanded capacity for offshore wind in its Renewable Energy Portfolio to at least 1,200 MW. Maryland regulators awarded offshore renewable energy credits for 808.5 MW to US Wind's Momentum Wind development at a levelized price of $54.17/MWh for 20 years. Skipjack Wind, owned by Ørsted Offshore North America, was awarded 846 MW of credits at $71.61/MWh for 20 years. Both projects are subject to review under BOEM. They are expected to be operational before the end of 2026. Notably, the PSC has closed the next anticipated application periods for offshore wind solicitations because the latest approved bids will not leave room for additional projects.

[1] https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-announces-historic-selection-of-offshore-wind-projects-to-bring-clean-affordable-power-to-the-commonwealth

[2] https://www.psc.state.md.us/wp-content/uploads/Order-No.-90011-Case-No.-9666-Order-Granting-Offshore-Wind-Renewable-Energy-Credits.pdf