The developer for a major offshore wind power project in Massachusetts has asked state regulators to pause review of the contract for one month, saying that global price hikes, inflation and supply chain shortages are disrupting the plan.
The Commonwealth Wind project, which would supply 1,200 megawatts of offshore wind power starting in 2028, "is no longer viable and would not be able to move forward" without amendments to the power purchase agreement (PPA), according to a motion recently filed by the developer.
The rising cost of the project comes as the U.S. aggressively ramps up its offshore wind industry.
The Biden administration has set a target for permitting 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030, enough to supply 10 million homes with clean energy while creating new domestic jobs.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is also set to hold its first-ever offshore wind lease sale on the West Coast in December, and to date has held 10 lease sales and issued 27 active commercial wind leases in the Atlantic Ocean from Massachusetts to North Carolina.