EGN NEWS DESK
Both states have a lengthy option to go to fulfill their upcoming targets: 9 GW of offshore wind by 2035 for New York and 5.6 GW by 2027 for Massachusetts. Still, they’ve made extra progress than different states.
Four of the states with offshore wind targets — together with California, which goals to construct 25 GW by 2045 — at present haven’t any initiatives beneath building or in superior improvement, per the American Clean Power Association. Meanwhile, New Jersey has a number of gigawatts’ value of initiatives in superior improvement, although little or no is beneath building; earlier this month, the state obtained approval for its first offshore wind challenge, a 2.8 GW set up that may energy 1 million houses.
Elsewhere, building is underway. In Virginia, utility Dominion Energy began constructing a 2.6 GW challenge in May. Once full in late 2026, the set up will carry the state almost midway to its purpose of 5.2 GW by 2034. Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are all constructing out installations now, and the states entered into an settlement earlier this yr to additional speed up efforts.
Though it’s been a tumultuous previous yr for the business, offshore wind capability within the U.S. greater than quadrupled over the past 12 months. And exercise within the sector isn’t going to decelerate: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to carry 4 lease auctions for offshore wind improvement this yr for gross sales off the coast of Oregon and within the Central Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and Gulf of Maine — extra auctions than the company has held in any prior yr and double final yr’s.
The nation — and states — will not be monitoring towards their near-term targets, but it surely’s clear that offshore wind energy is gaining momentum, even when slower than hoped.
