Vineyard Wind 2 Project Shelved Following Connecticut’s Decision
Vineyard Wind, an affiliate of Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, has announced the shelving of the proposed Vineyard Wind 2 project in response to Connecticut’s recent decision not to proceed with awarding wind projects after the New England tri-state solicitation.
The project, which had been selected by Massachusetts and was in a later stage of permitting at the federal level, faced challenges after Connecticut opted not to purchase the remaining 400 MW, making it difficult to contract the project’s full 1200 MW capacity at this time. Vineyard Offshore expressed disappointment in the decision but remains committed to advancing the project and participating in future solicitations.
Multi-State Coordinated Solicitation
Connecticut, along with Massachusetts and Rhode Island, initiated the first multi-state coordinated solicitation earlier this year in response to changing market conditions and offshore development challenges. Projects were given the option to bid either multi-state or individually.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island announced the selection of three projects with a total capacity of 2.9 GW, sharing SouthCoast Wind and New England Wind 1. Massachusetts also allocated 800 MW from the Vineyard Wind 1 project, hinting at a potential partnership with another state.
Connecticut’s Decision and Future Prospects
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and regulators decided to proceed with solar power but opted out of offshore wind in the current round due to cost considerations. Lamont emphasized that offshore wind power remains a possibility for the future.
Project Development and Partnerships
Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners won the lease area for Vineyard Wind 2 in 2018, approximately 29 miles south of Nantucket. The project has progressed with its Construction draft and Operations Plan filed at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. BOEM included Vineyard Wind 2 in its environmental impact statement announcement in March 2024, following completion of hearings.
Vineyard Offshore, in a joint venture partnership, is developing Vineyard Wind 1, currently under construction. The company holds lease areas off the coast of Massachusetts (Vineyard Northeast) and in the New York Bight (Vineyard Mid-Atlantic). It also has a lease area off the coast of Humboldt County in Northern California.