Major United States Wind Offshore Farm Delivers First Power to the Grid

Wind turbines located at the Block Island Wind Farm near Block Island, R.I., on July 7, 2022. John Moore/Getty Images

One turbine from the Vineyard Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts, a major offshore wind farm in the United States, has delivered five megawatts of power to the New England grid for the first time.

Vineyard Wind, a $2.8 billion development, was unveiled back in 2021 as a joint project between renewable energy companies Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. When completed, it’s expected to have 62 wind turbines operating and generate 800 megawatts of power.

In a Jan. 3 media release, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) called it a “historic moment for the American offshore wind industry” and claimed the project would soon be able to power a significant number of homes, using “clean, affordable energy.”

“Soon, Vineyard Wind will be producing power equivalent to over 400,000 Massachusetts households,” she said.

“As we look ahead, Massachusetts is on a path toward energy independence thanks to our nation-leading work to stand up the offshore wind industry.”

The news was met with praise by Democrats across the state. House Speaker Ronald Mariano (D) echoed the Massachusetts mayor, calling it a “historic moment” that would help solve the climate crisis. At the same time, Senate President Karen Spilka (D) said it was the “first step towards transitioning to the energy of the future.”

Climate change and the climate crisis refer to the theories about shifts in temperatures and weather patterns that are often natural but are claimed to have accelerated in unpredictable ways due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas. Renewable energy, such as solar panels and wind turbines, have been suggested as a possible solution to reduce greenhouse emissions and slow down the theorized changing climate.

Project Plagued by Delays and Missed Deadlines

According to the media statement detailing the Vineyard Wind project, developers say at least four more turbines, for a total of five, are expected to run in the early months of 2024.

However, to date, the project has seen delays on at least two occasions. Vineyard Wind’s deadline for sending power to the grid was missed in October and December last year. In the past, officials on the development were projecting the entire operation would be at full capacity by mid-2024. It’s unclear if the previous delays will affect the overall deadline.

The Biden administration has set a goal of powering at least 10 million homes through offshore wind energy by 2030. Becoming reliant on renewable energy, specifically wind turbines, has seen GOP members raise concerns about whether the projects will help reduce greenhouse emissions as advertised.

Wind turbines located at the Block Island Wind Farm near Block Island, R.I., on July 7, 2022. John Moore/Getty Images

Other concerns around wind turbines include possible effects on marine life, which have been speculated to die in droves as a result of the projects, and dredging the ocean floor to build the turbines. Impacts on the radar systems of sea vessels near wind turbines, damage to the fishing industry, and questions over whether wind turbines will actually reduce power bills have also been raised.

Last year, one of the most vocal opponents to wind farms, Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), called for all offshore wind activity to end immediately in his state until investigations into the impact on ocean life can be held, citing many of the same concerns as his fellow GOP members.