The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Board of Directors recently approved the release of a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for an up to 120 million wholesale renewable electricity supply contract.
The agency currently uses approximately 360,000 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity annually and purchases its electricity supply in advance at a fixed price. The MBTA’s proposed electricity procurement includes the purchase of fixed-price electricity and provisions for the purchase of solar and wind Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs).
The MBTA’s recommendations for the procurement include 70 percent hydropower from Maine Class II RECs and 30 percent solar and wind from Massachusetts Class I RECs.
The purchase of Massachusetts Class I RECs will allow the agency to support the state’s climate change goals and meet Clean Energy Standard requirements.
The MBTA will issue the RFQ on Friday to allow a contract to be in place by Dec. 31.
The purchase will take place on Sept. 13 with a transaction agreement finalized and signed with the winning bidder that day.
Responses to the RFQ may include fixed-price electricity blocks, RECs only, or both. The deadline for responding is Aug. 21.
The winning contract will begin Jan. 1 for a three-to-five-year period.
The agency’s previous contract was in 2021.