Offshore Wind in America: Progress, Setbacks, and the Path Forward

The U.S. offshore wind industry stands at a crossroads. After years of planning and billions in investment, America's first commercial-scale offshore wind projects are finally delivering power to the grid—yet the industry faces unprecedented political headwinds under an administration openly hostile to the technology.

Projects in Operation and Construction

Vineyard Wind 1, located 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, represents America's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm. With 62 planned turbines capable of generating 804 MW—enough to power 400,000 homes—the $4 billion project achieved first power in January 2024.

South Fork Wind became the first utility-scale offshore wind farm to complete construction, with all 12 Siemens Gamesa turbines operational. Empire Wind 1 and Revolution Wind continue construction in New York and Rhode Island waters respectively.

Political Headwinds

The Trump administration has signaled opposition to offshore wind development. Executive orders have paused new lease sales and environmental reviews for projects not yet under construction. However, projects with finalized permits and active construction continue to advance.

State-level commitment remains strong, particularly in the Northeast. New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Connecticut have binding procurement targets totaling over 25 GW by 2035. These mandates create market certainty even amid federal uncertainty.

Economics and Supply Chain

Project economics have improved after a challenging 2023-2024 period when rising interest rates and supply chain costs forced contract renegotiations. The industry is building domestic supply chain capacity, with blade manufacturing facilities in Massachusetts and tower production in New York.