March 4, 2022

Yesterday afternoon, Representative Antonio F.D. Cabral (D-New Bedford) voted in support of historic offshore wind legislation, An Act advancing offshore wind and clean energy. The bill features numerous priorities long fought for by Rep. Cabral – including prioritizing economic development within procurement bids and strengthening fisheries mitigation. The provisions passed today will have lasting benefits on the City of New Bedford.

“I am proud to have contributed to this latest chapter in the development of offshore wind in MA. The City of New Bedford will benefit greatly from this historic offshore wind legislation. An Act advancing offshore wind and clean energy will help New Bedford to remain an attractive hub for the offshore wind industry. The city will benefit from increased high-paying jobs and workforce training initiatives; a procurement process that prioritizes economic development and diversity, equity, and inclusion; and a commitment to protect the fishing industry and coastal environment,” said Rep. Cabral.

The offshore wind legislation:

• Establishes a Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry Investment Program and Investment Fund to develop offshore wind industry employment opportunities; promote renewable energy innovation and economic development in the state; to stimulate increased financing for the local offshore wind industry, promote manufacturing, advance innovation, and fund workforce training and educational programs.

• Removes price cap allowing future procurements to include economic development, employment, and environmental and fisheries mitigation benefits without artificial cap.

• Creates a selection committee to evaluate bids and produce a numerical economic development score for each bid.

• Provides preference to bids that include: The greatest economic and employment contributions, including opportunities for diversity, equity, and inclusion; Commitments to enter long-term contracts with municipal aggregators; Project labor agreements

• Directs the Office of Coastal Zone Management to establish an environmental working group and a fisheries working group to provide input on best practices, review monitoring and mitigation programs, and provide feedback to the office

• Creates an Offshore Wind Transmission Working Group to analyze costs and cost-allocation measures for transmission infrastructure upgrades necessary to support MA’s offshore wind goals.

• Requires the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development to annually create a list of high-skill, high-demand jobs and share it with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

• Creates a DESE high school OSW credential training pilot program through which DESE would reimburse school districts for each student that obtains the credentials.

• Requires utility companies to proactively upgrade the transmission and distribution grid to improve reliability, resilience, and interconnection of renewable energy sources.

“This offshore wind bill brings Massachusetts closer to realizing its climate goals as outlined in the 2021 landmark climate bill to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050,” said Rep. Cabral. “It will also transform offshore wind competition in this country by altering the procurement process through lifting the price cap and thereby making Massachusetts again be an attractive place for offshore wind development. Furthermore, the bill creates greater transparency in this procurement process by prioritizing economic development, ensuring that the residents of our communities reap the tangible benefits of offshore wind. This legislation is transformative for the state, the future of the offshore wind industry, and for the City of New Bedford. The residents of New Bedford deserve nothing less than to realize the type of wealth made possible by the offshore wind industry. Today is a win for New Bedford and the future of Massachusetts.”

The bill now moves to the Senate for their consideration.