Falmouth 345 KV Onshore Wind April 2024 Grid Update

ISO- NE, Independent System Operator New England is studying the proposed Falmouth onshore 345,000-volt grid upgrade. ISO-NE overlooks the operation of the power system and transmission lines.

The FERC, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversees ISO-NE which created the New England agency in 1997.

The offshore wind contractors want to use the Falmouth electric grid to get power off Cape Cod to the large cities where it will be used. The antique electric grid cannot handle 1200 megawatts of power at 345,000 volts. There is a strong possibility that a brand new 345 KV electric grid right of way would be needed to get the offshore wind power to the Bourne substation.

Questions remain about how Falmouth was determined to be the best location to bring cables onshore through an initial feasibility analysis completed in 2019 that analyzed the regional electricity system.

The offshore wind project has not reached the ISO-NE System Impact Study phase and the third phase of the Cape Cod Resource Integration study.

In June 2022, the offshore wind company announced a Falmouth high-voltage direct current converter plant is needed.

The HVDC converter plant would be built on the Cape Cod sole source aquifer near local ponds and reservoirs. In addition, the plant needs setbacks to bypass Falmouth zoning height restrictions, noise, and radio frequency issues.

Between 2022 and 2023 respectively the Falmouth Select Board and Falmouth Town Meeting denied offshore wind permission to dig soil test pits.

Under Article 97 of the state constitution, the Town of Falmouth-owned property can deny easements needed by offshore wind contractors.

A legal question remains over land deeded to the town only for the enjoyment of residents. The cables under that land would be almost double the output of the old 680-megawatt Plymouth Nuclear Plant.

In addition, the Town of Falmouth has wind turbine zoning bylaws established in part due to the removal of the two town-owned wind turbines deemed a nuisance by the courts.

Any wind system needs a special permit.

The definition of the town wind energy system is: "All equipment, machinery, and structures utilized in connection with the conversion of wind to electricity. This includes, but is not limited to, transmission, storage equipment, substations, transformers, service and access roads, and one or more wind turbines."

The Cape Cod Commission Act requires the Cape Cod Commission to review proposed developments that have development effects beyond their local communities.

In 2018 a 2 Gigawatt planned offshore wind submarine cable project called the Massachusetts Ocean Grid project was proposed. The Massachusetts Ocean Grid provides a point for all offshore wind contractors with a common connection rather than multiple connections all over Cape Cod.

Note: Link to planned ocean grid vs unplanned ocean grid :
https://anbaric.com/ma-resources/