Wind is Booming in the US

June 28, 2019

At the end of last year Mentor IMC Group wrote about Vineyard Wind, the first large-scale offshore wind energy project in the US. Vineyard Wind, operated by Iberdrola, will consist of 100 offshore turbines, to be constructed from 2019, with 800MW of power supplying up to 450,000 homes and first operations is expected in 2021.

Since the end of 2018 confidence in the US offshore, and onshore, wind market has surged to new highs with several projects in the planning phase.

Offshore wind tax credit extension will jumpstart U.S. industry

Earlier this week The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) extended its support to two new bills introduced to the US Sentate, which are both targeted to extend the federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) for offshore wind energy.

Energy developers are preparing to start construction on its first wave of large-scale wind farm projects in the US. Support and continuation of the ITC will drive infrastructure investment and create tens of thousands  number of American jobs – across the country.

In regards to job creating there’s also a huge opportunity for U.S. supply chain businesses, including those with experience in offshore oil and gas, to construct and service offshore wind farms. According to the University of Delaware’s Special Initiative on Offshore Wind, building 18.6 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 would create a nearly $70 billion opportunity for businesses in the industry supply chain.

Wind Farm projects in the US:

• Bay State Wind (Massachusetts) – A proposal for offshore wind turbines generating at least 400MW and possibly up to 800MW of power, supplying either 250,000 or 500,000 homes in Massachusetts (depending on which proposal is accepted).
• Deepwater Wind South Fork (New York) – 15 offshore turbines, to be constructed from 2019, with 90MW of power supplying 50,000 homes on Long Island. First operations in 2022.
• Empire Wind (New York) – Early planning/concept (as of August 2018) for offshore wind turbines generating at least 1,000MW and possibly up to 1,800MW of power, supplying a million homes in New York by 2025.
• Revolution Wind (Rhode Island) – 50 offshore turbines, to be constructed from 2020, with 400MW of power supplying Rhode Island. First operations in 2023.
• Skipjack Wind Farm (Maryland) – 15 offshore turbines, to be constructed from 2021, with 120MW of power supplying 35,000 homes on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. First operations in 2022.
• US Wind (Maryland) – A plan for offshore wind turbines generating at least 250MW[34] and possibly up to 600MW of power supplying homes in Maryland. Planning approval expected in 2019.
• US Wind (New Jersey) – Early planning/concept (as of August 2018) for offshore wind turbines in the New York Bight generating at least 1,500MW and possibly up to 2,230MW of power supplying homes in New Jersey.