In July the foundations for the first offshore wind farm in US waters were laid near Block island, 12 miles off the coast of Rhode Island. Block Island is not connected to the mainland power grid, and currently its 1000 residents and 15 000 summer visitors pay high rates for their energy, some of the highest energy costs in the country.
Deepwater Wind plans to $250 million create a 30 MW MW wind farm with five turbines each rated at 6 MW. When it comes online in autumn 2016, the facility should cut local energy bills by 40% and produce enough energy to export a surplus to the mainland grid.
Block Island amounts to being a trial for an American offshore wind industry. If it works out, Deepwater intends to develop a 200-turbine wind farm between Block Island and the mainland town of Martha's Vineyard.
The Economist reports that nine other commercial leases for offshore wind farms along the East Coast have been granted by the Bureau of Ocean Energy management, with a combined total of 3000 wind turbines, enough, it is said, to generate enough electricity to power New Jersey.
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