SouthCoast Wind

The CEO of SouthCoast Wind, Michael Brown, told CAI the federal review was rigorous. But the Town of Nantucket says feds failed to address threats to its historic district and economy.

The parties now say they expect to reach an agreement by March 31, more than two months after the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to halt offshore wind.

Wind developers Avangrid and Ocean Winds are scheduled to sign contracts with utilities Eversource, National Grid, and Unitil next Wednesday. Their wind farms, New England Wind 1 and SouthCoast Wind, have been approved by the Biden administration.

The Healey administration signs a wind agreement with two other states, and Vineyard Wind inches closer to turbine No. 1.

Commonwealth parent company Avangrid sought to renegotiate the contracts last year, saying costs had risen too high. But the state refused.

The action by SouthCoast Wind follows Commonwealth Wind, which made the same decision late last year.

Unlike in the past, the draft RFP allows bidders to index their prices to inflation. Two offshore wind CEOs addressed the RFP at a business conference Tuesday at Mass Maritime.