Shell-Ocean Winds Joint Venture Submits Offshore Wind Bids in Massachusetts

Mayflower Wind, a 50/50 joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC and Ocean Winds, has filed proposals as part of Massachusetts’ 83C III offshore wind energy procurement.

Mayflower submitted multiple bids, each with an accompanying economic development package.

Under the largest scenario, which involves interconnecting 1,200 MW at Brayton Point, Mayflower is committing to spend up to USD 81 Million on its economic development program to support the building of the offshore wind supply chain, provide for education and training of an offshore wind workforce, make investments in local ports, businesses, and infrastructure, as well as offer diversity, equity, and inclusion measures that include the hiring of specialized firms and support for low-income electric consumers, among other measures.

“Mayflower Wind is committed to Massachusetts and the South Coast,” said Michael Brown, CEO of Mayflower Wind.

“The bids we submitted were formulated after months of conversations with local stakeholders who shared with us their vision for the future of the offshore wind industry. We took those conversations very seriously and developed packages that incorporate their feedback and support each of their diverse groups.”

If successful in bidding, Mayflower Wind plans to establish an operations and maintenance (O&M) port in Fall River at the Borden & Remington Ironworks complex. Stull and Lee Inc., an architecture, urban design and planning firm is playing a key role in the planning of this redevelopment.

“Our O&M port in Fall River and the National Offshore Wind Institute in New Bedford, which we are proud to support, will be twin anchors for a vibrant and growing offshore wind industry on the South Coast,” Brown said.

Brown also noted that Mayflower Wind has leased and “soft opened” an executive, outreach and development office at 99 South Main Street, Fall River, which will be fully operational this October. The office location is close to the O&M port and a short commute to the New Bedford Waterfront that will be the home dock of Mayflower’s crew boats.

Mayflower Wind will have regular office hours, at 99 South Main Street, for interested individuals and groups to stop by, meet with staff and learn more about the project and opportunities with the company, subject in the short-term to COVID rules including advance reservations and indoor masking. A dedicated SouthCoast webpage has been launched on the Mayflower Wind website to provide updates on design, permitting, and outreach activities in the region, including ways to get involved.

Nearly 90 letters of support for Mayflower’s proposals were included in its bid package, the developer said. Supporters include local community organizations and business organizations such as the South Coast LGBTQ+ Network, Buzzards Bay Area Habitat for Humanity, Fall River Redevelopment Authority, New Bedford Economic Development Council, and the One SouthCoast Chamber.

Labor including the Boston & New England Maritimes Trades Council, AFL-CIO, also support the project. Others that provided supportive letters include educational institutions such as UMass Dartmouth, Bristol Community College, and the Massachusetts Maritime Academy and research organizations such as the New England Aquarium, as well as Supplier Diversity Experts of Boston.

Earlier this year, the company purchased interconnection rights at Brayton Point, that had been originally developed by transmission developer Anbaric, to supplement its interconnection on the Cape.

“The work we are doing on the South Coast builds on our ongoing work on the Cape,” said Brown.

“From Falmouth to New Bedford to Fall River to Somerset and beyond, Mayflower Wind stands ready to bring the state’s clean energy goals to reality while supporting the people and communities who help bring the benefits of renewable offshore wind energy to our shorelines.”

Mayflower Wind is developing an offshore wind lease area with the potential to supply over 2,000 MW of energy to electricity customers in New England. The developer was already successful in the second offshore wind solicitation in Massachusetts in 2019 with the 804 MW Mayflower Wind project.