Massachusetts Delays Round 5 of Its Bidding Process on Our Site
The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) has announced a delay in the issuance of the Round 5 offshore wind Request for Proposals (RFP), pushing the expected date to at least 2026. This decision comes in response to ongoing contract negotiations from Round 4 and federal uncertainty regarding offshore wind permitting.
The delay was strongly supported by public comments citing issues such as the federal Presidential Memorandum on permitting freezes, litigation, investment tax credit availability, and tariff uncertainty.
Key details regarding the Round 5 RFP status and timeline include:
- The Round 4 RFP, launched on 30 August 2023, selected projects totaling around 3,600 MW in 2024. However, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) later withdrew Vineyard Wind 2 from negotiations partly due to lack of buyers for a portion of its capacity.
- Federal permitting uncertainty remains a major impediment, exacerbated by ongoing litigation challenging federal policy which has broadly delayed offshore wind project approvals nationally.
- The DOER will continue to provide updates to the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities and the public on Round 5 progress, but no specific issuance date for Round 5 RFP has been set beyond “at least 2026”.
Despite the delay in the Round 5 RFP, the contract negotiations between Round 4 winners and the state's Electric Distribution Companies (EDCs) are still planned to take place on or before 31 December 2025. The delay in the RFP issuance does not affect this target completion date.
The delay contrasts with Massachusetts’ parallel active procurements, such as the energy storage RFP opened on July 31, 2025, aimed at procuring 5 GW of energy storage capacity by 2030.
In summary, the Round 5 offshore wind solicitation by Massachusetts DOER is on hold due to residual negotiations from the previous round and federal policy/permitting uncertainties, with expected issuance pushed into 2026 at the earliest. The state is monitoring the situation and will update stakeholders as it unfolds.
[1] Massachusetts Clean Energy Center. (2023). Offshore Wind Update: Round 5 Solicitation Delayed. Retrieved from https://www.masscec.com/offshore-wind-update-round-5-solicitation-delayed
[2] Vineyard Wind. (2024). Vineyard Wind 2 Withdraws from Massachusetts Solicitation. Retrieved from https://www.vineyardwind.com/news/vineyard-wind-2-withdraws-from-massachusetts-solicitation
[3] Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources. (2025). Massachusetts Launches Energy Storage RFP. Retrieved from https://www.mass.gov/news/massachusetts-launches-energy-storage-rfp
- The delay in the issuance of the Round 5 offshore wind Request for Proposals (RFP) has shifted the expected date to at least 2026, potentially affecting investors' timeline in the energy finance industry.
- The Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) will continue to negotiate with the winners of Round 4, despite the delay, ensuring the completion of contract negotiations by 31 December 2025, showcasing the continuity of finance involvement in the offshore wind market.
- Despite the delay in the Round 5 RFP, the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources is simultaneously proceeding with other active procurements, including the energy storage RFP, demonstrating the commitment of the state to promoting renewable energy finance and industry growth.
