Abstract
Offshore wind projects along the U.S. Atlantic Coast are progressing at unprecedented scale and speed. States have committed to almost 30 gigawatts in offshore wind procurements by 2035. The slated projects could easily overwhelm and congest the land-based grid, where new transmission can take a decade to build. Coastal points of interconnection (POIs) are valuable resources, and systems-level transmission upgrades will be required to realize 2035 goals. Leveraging industry research and geospatial analysis, I find that U.S. Atlantic Coast lease and planning areas can provide 53–64 gigawatts. I identify POIs from Massachusetts to New Jersey and estimate capacity for 60% of locations using transmission infrastructure data. POIs are vetted using interconnection queues as an indicator of market interest. These analyses are summarized through a series of visuals, which have been shared with regulators to frame holistic conversations about adapting grid infrastructure and energy markets for the future.