​ Falmouth Offshore Wind Stalls To Mid December

An offshore wind company made proposals to land its cables in Falmouth, Massachusetts and Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

The wind company held talks with Falmouth town officials for almost two years.

During a June 8th 2022 Falmouth Select Board meeting the offshore wind company announced major changes to their plans to install electric cables and onshore power station. It was also disclosed the electric grid does not have the capacity to carry the high voltage lines off Cape Cod. The company also filed a motion with the Massachusetts Energy Facility Siting Board to temporarily suspend its landfall in Falmouth and was excepted by the board.

Falmouth residents at the Select Board meeting unanimously spoke out against the project.

On June 16,2022 the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board notified the Town of Portsmouth Rhode Island that the same Falmouth offshore wind company had shifted plans to run cables through Portsmouth to get to Fall River.

By November 4, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities was told by the parent company of the offshore wind company that the project was no longer viable and would not be able to move forward.

The Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board scolded the offshore wind company for not informing the Rhode Island Board about the financial difficulties over inflation, interest rates and supply shortages while having a proposal in front of the board. The board had only been informed by Massachusetts news media and social networking.

Rhode Island regulators are considering suspending the offshore wind company application for the onshore transmission cables.

This seems very confusing but now the Rhode Island Energy Facility Siting Board has asked the offshore wind company for a "Show Cause Order." The board is questioning that the process be stayed until questions related to the economic and financial viability are answered.

The Rhode Island EFSB hearing for Docket number SB-2202-02 will take place in Mid December 2022