Senate Assistant Majority Leader Mark Montigny (D-New Bedford) is urging his Senate colleagues to include strong provisions for offshore wind power in the impending omnibus energy bill set to be released this Friday. For several months, the Rules Chairman has levered his leadership in the Senate to persistently demand a significant role for offshore wind in the state’s energy portfolio. Earlier this month, the House passed its own energy legislation that provided just 1,200 megawatts of offshore wind procurement. It is widely thought, by industry experts, researchers and stakeholders that approximately 2,000 megawatts are necessary to ensure offshore wind facilities can be built to scale. A significant investment in offshore wind energy can help the Commonwealth meet its greenhouse gas reduction benchmarks and supplant energy that has, or will be, going offline in the region such as the scheduled 2019 shutdown of the Pilgrim nuclear power plant in Plymouth.
“With immense wind resources just off our coastline and waterfront facilities ready to support offshore operations, New Bedford is in a prime position to help make the state a leader in renewable energy,” said Senator Montigny. “I will continue to push for additional offshore wind power in the Senate that will bring jobs and economic growth to the region. I am hopeful that the Senate will meet the 2,000 megawatt target as the 1,200 figure is simply inadequate. If required, an amendment will be filed to ensure this goal is met.”
Senator Montigny represents the 2nd Bristol and Plymouth District that includes Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mattapoisett, and New Bedford.