Wind Energy – Power
America’s offshore wind industry achieved a historic milestone late Friday when the country’s first major sea-based wind project completed construction and a second one announced it had begun generating electricity.
Officials for Vineyard Wind said the last blades had been installed on the 62-turbine project, by DEME’s jack up installation vessel Sea Installer. Minutes later, Revolution Wind announced it had begun sending power from the 65-turbine project to customers in Connecticut and Rhode Island.
The news marks the culmination of a two-decade push to build offshore wind in the shallow waters south of New England. It comes amid fierce resistance from President Donald Trump, whose administration has attempted to stop construction of both projects, and as the rising cost of energy has become a focus of voters.
The milestone represents a major win for New England, a region that has struggled to build renewable energy projects despite boasting some of the country’s most ambitious climate goals. The two wind farms immediately became the largest renewable energy projects in operation east of the Mississippi River. They will generate enough electricity to power 750,000 homes once they become fully operational.
“On Friday evening, with the installation of the final blades, Vineyard Wind completed its offshore construction program. Vineyard Wind continues to deliver power to the New England grid,” Vineyard Wind spokesperson Craig Gilvarg said in a statement.
New England’s leaders hoped the two projects would herald a new chapter for the six-state electric grid. Natural gas provides about half of the region’s power, but New England’s limited pipeline capacity led to concerns that it could face supply shortages when gas demand spikes in the winter.
Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind will have a combined capacity of 1,500 MW, nearly equal to the 1,700 MW of onshore wind capacity installed across the region today.
