In the final days of the Biden administration, the White House announced its approval of the SouthCoast Wind Project. This offshore wind farm will generate up to 2.4 gigawatts of energy, powering more than 840,000 homes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
“The approval of the SouthCoast Wind Project today demonstrates the strength of our collaborative process to deploy offshore wind,” said Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Elizabeth Klein in a statement. “As we mark this achievement, we look forward to the meaningful economic opportunities the SouthCoast Wind Project will bring to this region, both during construction and throughout the project’s lifetime.”
Point phone camera here
Spanning nearly 130,000 acres, the project includes the construction of up to 141 wind turbines. To mitigate environmental concerns, six originally planned turbine positions have been removed to reduce potential impacts on marine wildlife.
The SouthCoast Wind Project marks the 11th commercial-scale offshore wind energy development approved under President Joe Biden. His administration gave a green light for 19 gigawatts of offshore wind power. That’s enough power to supply energy to more than 6 million homes.
Despite the sector’s growth under Biden-era policies, offshore wind has faced significant challenges in 2024. Rising material costs and supply chain disruptions have led to project cancellations. These cancellations have eliminated over half of the previously planned installed capacity.
As a result, Siemens Energy, the world’s largest offshore wind turbine manufacturer, is projecting $2.2 billion in financial losses for the year.
Environmental concerns have also increased following a blade failure at the Vineyard Project over the summer. The incident bolstered local opposition to offshore wind in some regions.
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Sign up for the newsletter today!
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
With the Trump administration set to take office and the president-elect pledging to end offshore wind energy on day one, the future of this industry in the U.S. remains uncertain.
[Jack]
THE WHITE HOUSE HAS APPROVED ANOTHER OFFSHORE WIND FARM-
A DEVELOPMENT WHICH COMES IN THE FINAL DAYS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.
THE SOUTHCOAST WIND PROJECT WILL GENERATE UP TO 2.4 GIGAWATTS OF ENERGY-
POWERING MORE THAN 840,000 HOMES IN MASSACHUSETTS AND RHODE ISLAND.
IT SPANS NEARLY 130,000 ACRES, AND WILL INCLUDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF UP TO 141 WIND TURBINES.
TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS, SIX ORIGINALLY PLANNED TURBINE POSITIONS HAVE BEEN REMOVED-
PART OF AN EFFORT TO REDUCE POTENTIAL IMPACTS TO MARINE WILDLIFE.
THIS MARKS THE 11TH COMMERCIAL-SCALE OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY PROJECT TO MOVE FORWARD UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN.
IN ALL, THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION HAS NOW GREENLIT FOR DEVELOPMENT OVER 19 GIGAWATTS OF POWER FROM THIS RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCE-
ENOUGH TO KEEP MORE THAN 6 MILLION HOMES RUNNING.
BUT WHILE THE SECTOR HAS EXPERIENCED GROWTH IN THE U.S. AS A RESULT OF BIDEN-ERA POLICIES-
2024 ALSO SAW MULTIPLE OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS ENCOUNTER DIFFICULTIES.
RISING MATERIAL COSTS AND SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS HAVE CAUSED A NUMBER OF DEVELOPERS TO BACK OUT.
BEFORE THE YEAR EVEN BEGAN, MULTIPLE PROJECT CANCELLATIONS FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR ELIMINATED OVER HALF OF THE PLANNED INSTALLED CAPACITY FROM OFFSHORE WIND.
AS A RESULT, SIEMENS ENERGY, THE WORLD’S LARGEST MAKER OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES, IS ANTICIPATING FINANCIAL LOSSES IN 2024 OF AROUND 2.2 BILLION DOLLARS.
MEANWHILE, THE BLADE FAILURE AT THE VINEYARD PROJECT OVER THE SUMMER HAS HEIGHTENED ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS-
AND INTENSIFIED LOCAL OPPOSITION TO OFFSHORE WIND IN SOME AREAS.
WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION READYING TO TAKE OFFICE-
AND THE PRESIDENT-ELECT’S PROMISE TO KILL OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY ON DAY ONE OF HIS TERM-
WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR THIS INDUSTRY IN THE U.S. REMAINS UNCLEAR.
TO GET MORE STORIES ABOUT U.S. RENEWABLE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT , DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME- JACK AYLMER.
Straight to your inbox.
By entering your email, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and acknowledge the Privacy Policy.
MOST POPULAR
-
Reuters
Kilauea eruption shoots lava into the air, brings tourists to Hawaii’s Big Island
-
Ukraine Armed Forces
Ukraine uses all-drone ground attack force in historic first
-
Getty Images
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs facing two new sexual assault lawsuits
-
Getty Images
American Airlines temporarily grounded all flights on Christmas Eve