Falmouth Onshore Wind Electric Grid Cable Upgrade Who Pays

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

In June 2022, the Falmouth offshore wind company upgraded its project to a 1200 megawatt high voltage direct current cable and a high voltage direct current converter station to change the power to alternating current.

As of 2024, Falmouth remains on hold because after 5 years offshore wind is still working with the New England electric grid operator to examine the lack of grid capacity for its project.

The New England grid operator recently completed a 2050 transmission study which the local Cape Cod power company says tens of billions of dollars may have been overlooked. (see note) The billions may have been ignored because of an assumption the offshore wind companies included it in their Power Purchase Agreements.

The grid operator contends customers should not see the offshore wind grid upgrade cost as a traditional transmission cost. In other words, local electric ratepayers don't get billed.

The onshore wind company brings its buried cables through Falmouth to its high voltage direct current converter station after this point becomes required electric grid upgrades from the HVDC converter to the Falmouth POI, the point of interconnection on the electric grid. Next right-of-way issues and grid upgrades from the Falmouth POI to the Bourne electric substation.

The offshore Falmouth wind company has a QP, queue position number assigned number 1225. The electric grid operator is studying the Falmouth project in queue order after the first Cape Cod Cluster System Impact Study (CSIS). ( 5 years later)

-------------

Note reference to who pays:

New England Grid 2025 Transmission Study March 2024
https://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100009/a03_2024_03_20_pac_2050_additional_analysis.pdf

Cape Cod Local Electric Company
Comment 3: The Draft Report understates the cost and viability of constructing an offshore grid
See page 19 of 31 pdf reader

https://www.iso-ne.com/static-assets/documents/100008/2024_02_14_pac_2050_transmission_study_report_comments_responses.pdf