Mayflower Wind asks for more time after Rhode Island EFSB sets date for ‘Show Cause’ hearing

This article was first published on 13 December with information on the date set for Mayflower Wind’s hearing before the Rhode Island EFSB. On 14 December, the article was updated following the receipt of information on Mayflower Wind’s request to reschedule the hearing, which the EFSB has granted.

Mayflower Wind, a joint venture between Shell and Ocean Winds which is developing an up to 2.4 GW wind lease area offshore Massachusetts, has requested from the Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) of the Rhode Island Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reschedule the Show Cause Hearing which was set for 19 December.  

As reported initially, Mayflower Wind was scheduled to appear before the Energy Facility Siting Board (EFSB) on 19 December for a hearing related to its application for an offshore wind transmission route filed in the state. 

The EFSB set the hearing date on 5 December and received Mayflower Wind’s request to postpone the hearing three days later. The Board granted the developer’s request on 12 December. 

According to the developer, Mayflower and its witness(es) need more time to prepare testimony and materials for the hearing. The new date, which has not yet been set, will be determined after consultation between Mayflower Wind and counsel for the EFSB.

While Mayflower Wind’s projects are in Massachusetts, the developer filed an application in Rhode Island this May seeking approval to build transmission facilities in the state, which are necessary to connect its Massachusetts offshore wind farm to the onshore regional transmission system.

The cable route in Rhode Island runs up the Sakonnet River, crosses Portsmouth and reenter Mt. Hope Bay, before making final landfall in Massachusetts.

As reported last month, the Rhode Island EFSB issued an order on 10 November, requesting Mayflower Wind to show cause why the proceedings for its application should not be suspended, following concerns arising on the project’s viability from both the case in Massachusetts and subsequent media coverage.

“The Board was in the process of finalizing its Preliminary Order and initiating its evaluation of the application when the Chairman of the Board learned that Mayflower Wind had recently requested the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (MA DPU) suspend its contract approval proceeding for the Mayflower Wind project (whose Rhode Island transmission facilities are currently pending before the Board in this docket), citing concerns over the economic and financial viability of the project”, the Rhode Island EFSB said.