According to a Brattle Group report released on January 24, 2023, federal agencies, states, and grid operators must begin collaborative planning to identify cost-effective transmission solutions to bring offshore power online.[1] The report, titled The Benefit and Urgency of Planned Offshore Transmission, finds that starting a collaborative planning process immediately will reduce costs, reduce environmental and community impacts, increase grid reliability, and help achieve climate and clean energy goals. Leveraging existing studies in the United States and Europe, the study estimates that the benefits of proactive transmission planning for the potential 100 GW of U.S. offshore wind generation developments over the next 2-3 decades include at least $20 billion in transmission cost savings; 60-70% fewer shore crossings and necessary onshore transmissions upgrades; and 50% fewer miles of marine transmission cable installations. Proactive planning would also result in more competition, increased consumer savings, enhanced reliability and resilience, and more investments in the local clean energy economy.
The report comes as the Biden administration has set a 2030 goal of 30 GW of offshore wind deployment as a milestone to 110 GW by 2050. 11 coastal states have already set procurement targets, with figures exceeding 50 GW through 2035 and more than 75 GW by 2045. However, it can take at least a decade to plan and build major new transmission lines as a result of current processes. Because of this, the report urged working immediately to standardize offshore transmission technologies, improve existing planning processes, utilize federal support and funding, and coordinate cross-state. The report was commissioned by industry stakeholders, including the American Clean Power Association (ACP), American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), Clean Air Task Force (CATF), GridLab, and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
[1] https://cleanpower.org/resources/the-benefit-and-urgency-of-planned-offshore-transmission/