Representatives of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts and Vermont have selected a cumulative 173 MW of new solar generation through a coordinated procurement process, the states announced Dec. 18.

The expedited process was aimed at procuring “advanced-stage projects” that could take advantage of expiring federal clean energy tax credits.

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) initiated the process with a request for proposals issued Sept. 10 and proposals due Oct. 10. The solicitation was open to renewable resources including onshore wind, solar and co-located storage.

The RFP noted the DEEP would “coordinate bid evaluation and selection” with any New England states that opted to join the procurement.

The project selections include:

• • Viridis Solar in Panton, Vt. (50 MW)
  • Husky Solar in Plainfield, Conn. (50 MW)
  • Fair Haven Solar in Fair Haven, Vt. (20 MW)
  • Knox Solar Energy Center in Warren, Maine (33.1 MW)
  • Turner Meadow Solar Station in Turner, Maine (19.9 MW)

DEEP selected about 67 MW across three projects; the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources selected about 41 MW across two projects; the Maine PUC selected about 51 MW across five projects; and Vermont utility Green Mountain Power selected about 14 MW from one project. All projects are expected to be in service by the end of 2030.

The process highlights increased collaboration among New England states to procure clean energy and transmission. Massachusetts collaborated with Rhode Island and Connecticut on an offshore wind procurement in 2024, and the six New England states worked with ISO-NE to establish the new Longer-term Transmission Planning (LTTP) process. The first LTTP procurement focused on onshore wind development in Maine. (See ISO-NE Provides More Detail on Responses to LTTP Procurement.)

Meanwhile, the Maine PUC is hoping to work with other states on an onshore wind and transmission solicitation intended to complement the ongoing LTTP procurement.

Announcing the solar selection, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said “regional collaboration is critical to expanding and diversifying our energy supply, especially as we work to bring down the cost of electricity for Connecticut ratepayers.”

“By working together with New England state partners, and working quickly to take advantage of competitively priced projects, we are able to secure greater affordability and reliability benefits for Connecticut at a fraction of the cost,” DEEP Commissioner Katie Dykes said.

Multistate procurements are “becoming much more of the norm than the exception,” Dykes said at an industry event earlier in December.

Aidan Foley, CEO of Glenvale Solar, the developer of the Knox Solar Energy Center and Turner Meadow Solar Station, applauded the states’ “resolve to advancing low-cost, locally produced, carbon-free energy,” adding that the selections “will benefit communities and energy consumers throughout New England for decades to come.”