From Time Inc.:

For the first time in the United States, turbines are sending electricity to the grid from the sites of two large offshore wind farms. Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners announced the first electricity from the Vineyard Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts. Another project, South Fork Wind, off the coast of New York, also has turbines installed.

The Vineyard Wind project will consist of 62 wind turbines, with five already installed. The project will be massive enough to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. It is set to be 15 miles off the coast.

Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra announced historic offshore wind power in Massachusetts, stating that 2023 was a year of work, and they welcomed 2024 with the first clean offshore wind power.

Offshore wind will play a crucial role in meeting the target for renewable energy use set by nearly 200 countries at COP28, as part of a larger global goal to move away from fossil fuels.

Despite the international push for renewable energy, developers in the US have canceled several offshore wind projects, citing economic feasibility concerns.

Vineyard Wind was a massive project that aimed to launch offshore wind in the US. Initial setbacks and delayed approvals from federal regulators almost derailed the project, but the Biden administration signed off in 2021, and onshore construction began.

Vineyard Wind’s construction commenced in Barnstable, Massachusetts, this spring. Tower sections from Portugal arrived at the Port of New Bedford to be assembled out on the water.

Both the Vineyard Wind and South Fork Wind projects are a part of a larger shift towards renewable energy, in line with current climate discussions and global renewable energy goals.

Construction for the South Fork Wind Project is also underway. It involves a joint venture between Danish wind energy developer Ørsted and utility Eversource.

The first U.S. offshore wind farm was supposed to be the Cape Wind project, which failed after years of local opposition and litigation.

Equinor and BP announced delays for an 800-megawatt offshore wind project off the coast of New York, signaling industry-wide economic challenges in offshore wind.

The Biden administration has been supportive of the renewable energy project and has worked to overcome setbacks faced by Vineyard Wind.



Read more: American electric grid starts getting offshore wind power for first time ever