NEW YORK (AP) — America’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm is officially open, a long-awaited moment that helps pave the way for a succession of large wind farms.
Danish wind energy developer Ørsted and the utility Eversource built a 12-turbine wind farm called South Fork Wind east of Montauk Point, New York.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul went to Long Island Thursday to announce that the turbines are delivering clean power to the local electric grid. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland was also on hand.
The Biden administration has approved six commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects.
The first U.S. offshore wind farm was supposed to be a project off the coast of Massachusetts known as Cape Wind. A developer proposed the project in 2001. It failed after years of local opposition and litigation.
Turbines began spinning off Rhode Island’s Block Island as a pilot project in 2016.
The nation’s second large offshore wind farm, Vineyard Wind, is expected to open later this year off the coast of Massachusetts, too. The first five turbines are providing power for about 30,000 homes and businesses in the state. When all 62 turbines are spinning, they’ll generate enough electricity for 400,000 homes and businesses. Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners are the joint owners of that project.
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