In a historic moment for the United States, turbines from two large offshore wind farms have begun sending electricity to the grid. The Vineyard Wind project, jointly owned by Avangrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, announced that one turbine from their 62-turbine wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts delivered about 5 megawatts of power to the grid just before midnight on Wednesday. The other four turbines are currently undergoing testing and are expected to be operational early this year. Additionally, Danish wind energy developer ??rsted and utility company Eversource announced that their first turbine from the South Fork Wind project, located 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York, is also sending electricity to the grid. With a total of five turbines installed, the South Fork Wind project aims to generate 132 megawatts of offshore wind energy, powering more than 70,000 homes.

Avangrid CEO Pedro Azagra expressed his excitement about this milestone, stating that 2023 was a historic year for offshore wind in the United States, and now they are welcoming 2024 by delivering the first clean offshore wind power to the grid in Massachusetts. He emphasized the significance of this moment for climate action in the U.S. and the American offshore wind industry. The recent COP28 agreement, in which nearly 200 countries pledged to move away from fossil fuels and triple the use of renewable energy, highlights the importance of offshore wind in meeting these targets.

The United States has faced challenges in launching the offshore wind industry, with previous projects facing opposition and litigation. The Cape Wind project off the coast of Massachusetts, which was supposed to be the country's first commercial-scale wind farm, failed after years of local opposition. However, Vineyard Wind has emerged as a promising project, submitting plans in 2017 to build an offshore wind farm that would be significantly farther offshore than Cape Wind. After facing delays, the project received approval from the Biden administration in 2021, and construction began in Barnstable, Massachusetts.

The completion of these offshore wind farms marks a significant step towards the country's clean energy goals. The Vineyard Wind project, with an 800-megawatt capacity, is expected to power more than 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. Maura Healey, the Attorney General of Massachusetts, highlighted the achievement as a result of the efforts of advocates, public servants, union workers, and business leaders who have worked tirelessly for decades to make clean, affordable energy a reality.

The South Fork Wind project in New York also plays a crucial role in the state's plan to transition to a carbon-free electricity system. With a target of installing 9 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2035, New York sees offshore wind as a central component of its clean energy future. Stephanie McClellan, executive director of the nonprofit Turn Forward, described the first power announcement from the South Fork Wind project as an incredible moment in the American clean energy story. She emphasized that offshore wind has the potential to provide clean, reliable, domestically-produced energy and that this is just the beginning of what it can accomplish.

Overall, the successful delivery of electricity from these offshore wind farms signifies a significant milestone in the development of the U.S. offshore wind industry. It demonstrates the country's commitment to transitioning to renewable energy sources and addressing climate change. As more offshore wind projects are planned and implemented, the U.S. is poised to play a leading role in the global clean energy transition.