Wind energy boost for Rhode Island
By Nancy Lavin, Rhode Island Current
A regional project to upgrade the infrastructure connecting offshore wind farms to the electric grid was awarded nearly $390 million in federal funding through a competitive grant program, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced Tuesday..webp)
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The Power Up New England project, submitted by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources on behalf of all six New England states, was one eight projects nationwide awarded $2.2 billion through DOE’s Grid Innovation Program.
The project is a collaboration among state agency energy departments, local utility companies and an unnamed “emerging technology developer.” It aims to ready the region for the flurry of new offshore wind projects which, once finished, collectively bring several thousand megawatts of renewable electricity to the regional grid. The $389 million in federal funding, which requires a $500 million local match, specifically pays for new and upgraded interconnection points in southeastern Massachusetts and southeastern Connecticut, as well as new battery storage systems in southwest Connecticut and in Maine.
“Built off of Rhode Island’s early success, New England is leading the deployment of clean offshore wind technology,” U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse said in a statement. “This significant federal funding will help the region further its expansion of offshore wind by making needed investments in transmission and energy storage while improving the reliability and resiliency of the electric grid.”
Even though Rhode Island will not house the batteries or new interconnection points, officials touted the money as a win for the state economy and environment, including in meeting its ambitious decarbonization goals. Rhode Island has also joined forces with Massachusetts and Connecticut to coordinate new solicitations for offshore wind projects, with a tentative selection expected on Wednesday, Aug. 7.
“This federal funding award is critical to advancing New England’s offshore wind opportunities, improving our regional energy system, and aligning with our Act on Climate clean energy development objectives,” Gov. Dan McKee said in a statement. “I am so proud of the strong collaboration by the New England State Energy Offices in securing these federal funds for our collective consumers, which will provide long-term benefits.”
A second regional project that included New England and New York seeking federal funding for a New York-New England transmission line was not awarded funding in the first round of grants. However, additional awards are expected later this year, according to DOE.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law included $10.5 billion for a Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnerships program aimed at helping states bolster their power grids and improve resilience against climate change and extreme weather. Roughly $5.7 billion across 65 projects has been distributed so far, including $50 million to Rhode Island Energy for a “smart grid” that will improve service and energy efficiency for utility customers.
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