On Thursday June 8th, 2023, SouthCoast Wind’s lawyer filed the following 45-day update with the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB):
Take particular note of last paragraph, bolded sections.
June 8, 2023 Via Electronic Filing
Robert Shea, Esq. Presiding Officer
Energy Facilities Siting Board One South Station, 5th Floor Boston, MA 02110
RE: SouthCoast Wind Energy LLC, EFSB 21-03/D.P.U. 21-142/21-143
Dear Presiding Officer Shea:
Per your request, SouthCoast Wind Energy LLC (SouthCoast Wind) is continuing to provide updates to the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB or Board) approximately every forty-five days on the status of its transmission connector project interconnecting in the Town of Falmouth.
SouthCoast Wind filed its most recent update on April 24, 2023.
1 As noted in its previous update letter, after issuance of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) on February 17, 2023, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) conducted three virtual public hearings in the month of March.
On April 4, 2023, BOEM extended the comment period for the SouthCoast Wind DEIS until April 18, 2023. The DEIS is a major milestone for SouthCoast Wind. SouthCoast Wind continues to work with ISO-NE on the interconnection process. At this time, there has not been any significant change since the April 24, 2023 letter.
As noted, ISONE terminated the Second Cape Cod Resource Integration Study (Cluster 2) and will now study
SouthCoast Wind also recently notified the EFST and the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board that is has initiated a process to terminate its existing power purchase agreements (PPAs) because they are uneconomic. Although this is not directly relevant to the Falmouth Connector Project, given that the existing PPAs do not have Falmouth delivery points, SouthCoast Wind nonetheless notes this recent change in circumstance related to the overall development of its offshore wind projects. More information regarding this update on the existing PPAs is provided in the SouthCoast Wind Supplemental Response to EFSB-N-1 filed in EFSB22-04/D.P.U. 22-67/22-68 (June 5, 2023).
June 8, 2023 Page 2 SouthCoast Wind’s Project individually in serial queue order after the completion of the First Cape Cod Cluster System Impact Study (Cluster 1).
The timing of the study of SouthCoast Wind’s Project still remains unclear.
SouthCoast Wind remains engaged with the Town of Falmouth and community members despite some challenges to moving forward. SouthCoast Wind has established regular monthly meetings with a designated Falmouth Select Board representative to routinely update the board on any Project changes or activities. SouthCoast Wind is committed to bringing clean, renewable energy to the citizens of Massachusetts and New England and plans to continue its efforts with the Town of Falmouth as the host community for the Falmouth Connector Project.