Bianca Sanchez, bianca.sanchez@sierraclub.org
BOSTON, MA - Offshore wind is critical to achieving New England’s climate goals, reducing local energy costs, and protecting New Englanders from volatile gas prices, according to a new report authored by Synapse Energy Economics, Inc. If Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island achieve their shared goal of developing 9 GWs of offshore wind by 2030, residents will reap significant energy bill savings and life-saving emissions reductions.
Click Here to Read the Report.
Titled “Charting the Wind,” the new report seeks to quantify the benefit of offshore wind to ratepayers, the climate, and public health in New England. Currently, the region is trapped in a cycle of high and spiking electricity costs spurred by overreliance on natural gas for power generation and extreme weather and geopolitical events that increase imported gas prices. By investing in offshore wind, New England can get off the gas coaster and ensure energy savings, health, and climate benefits for families and businesses.
According to the Report, 9 GWs of Offshore Wind by 2030 Would:
- Reduce New England electricity customers’ bills by approximately $2.79/month to $4.61/month, depending on future gas prices.
- Save New England an average of $630 million annually on electricity costs, with net savings in some years surpassing $1.3 billion under a mid-case natural gas price.
- Retain approximately $1.57 billion in New England that would have otherwise flowed out to purchase gas fuel.
- Cut 42% of annual CO2 emissions from the New England power sector. That’s 14 million short tons of CO2 gone.
- Provide $362 million in annual public health benefits by avoiding 3,700 short tons of NOX emissions, 824 tons of SO2 emissions, and 641 tons of PM2.5 emissions annually.
Already, 2024 has been the biggest year yet for OSW in New England. Vineyard Wind, the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind farm, powered on in January. In March, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island held a successful tri-state auction. Then, in April, the Department of Interior announced a 15 GW Gulf of Maine auction, including eight lease areas off the shore of Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire.
Experts will present the report findings at a telepresser today at 11 AM EST. Click here to register.
“Offshore wind is New England’s greatest shot at curbing the impacts of the climate crisis and getting our communities off the gas roller coaster for good,” said Sierra Club Northeast Deputy Regional Field Director Andrea Callan. “For healthier communities and lower energy bills, decision makers must dedicate themselves to the increased development of offshore wind in the region and make 9GWs by 2030 a reality. This summer, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island together must seize the opportunity before them to green light projects that will put us well on our way to achieving that goal.”
“In the 1930s, we saw the rapid electrification of the United States, a time of large-scale infrastructure investment that led to prosperity for working people,” said Patrick Crowley, Secretary-Treasurer, Rhode Island AFL-CIO. “Once again, we’re experiencing a boom of large-scale infrastructure investment, this time for offshore wind energy, that could again usher in great opportunities for workers. The Sierra Club’s report shows us that we can create thousands of good union jobs right here in New England and supply affordable, abundant, and clean energy to our communities for generations to come.”
“We are delighted that this report demonstrates the economic benefits of offshore wind to ratepayers,” said Nathan Frohing, Director of External Affairs for The Nature Conservancy in CT. “It adds a very important argument supporting offshore wind as critical to addressing societal issues from climate and health to the economy. And let’s be honest, concern about cost has been a major stumbling block in passing the kind of policies we need to seriously address the existential issue of climate change. We’ve got to get the insight of this report to both the public and policy-makers.”
“Outdated fossil fuels threaten everything about New England’s cherished way of life – and offshore wind is an opportunity to protect our future, health, and wallets,” said Kate Sinding Daly, Senior Vice President of Law and Policy at CLF. “This study demonstrates just how much offshore wind can save our families and businesses from costly electricity bills and devastating climate impacts. It reaffirms that this clean energy resource is a win for us and every generation moving forward.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.