Issue Area

Offshore Wind

Overview

The offshore wind industry has been slow to take hold in the United States but is now gaining momentum among policymakers and financiers. The success of Block Island Wind Farm, the United States’ first operational offshore wind farm located off the coast of Rhode Island, and a growing demand for renewable energy are signs of new potential for development. With the right policy drivers and a robust stakeholder engagement process, coastal and Great Lakes states can harness the economic potential of offshore wind to create jobs and produce clean, renewable energy for years to come.

NCEL Point of Contact
Alissa Weinman

Ocean Program Manager

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Key Facts

U.S. offshore wind could generate more than 7,200 TWh per year, nearly double the nation’s current electricity use.

Department of Energy

Full deployment of offshore wind could provide $440 million in annual lease payments, $680 million in annual property tax payments, and up to 160,000 jobs.

Department of Energy

Research shows offshore wind farms can act as marine preservation areas and support greater biodiversity than unprotected areas.

MIT Technology Review
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Resources

NCEL Resources

Online Resources

Offshore Wind on the Horizon

Brief by NCSL outlining offshore wind policies.

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State Policies Can Unleash U.S. Commercial Offshore Wind Development

Center for American Progress’s report details how state policies can unleash U.S. commercial offshore wind development.

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WINDExchange

U.S. Department of Energy’s WINDExchange platform provides resources and tools to help make wind development decisions.

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Generating Economic Benefits on the East Coast

This report examines the potential impact an average offshore wind project would have in five East Coast states and the economic risk increased oil and gas drilling poses.

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Offshore Wind and Environmental Justice

Energy equity and environmental justice must be prioritized as offshore wind development advances nationwide.

Human Health

The fossil fuel industry threatens human health and puts frontline communities at increased risk. Offshore wind is key to our transition away from fossil fuels.

3x More Jobs

Off the Atlantic coast, offshore wind could create between 133,000 and 212,000 jobs annually – approximately 3x more jobs than is expected from new offshore oil and natural gas.

Equitable State Policies

State policies can ensure that equity is central to clean energy development. New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts, for example, have enacted legislation to that effect.

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Media Contact

For more information please contact NCEL's Ocean Program Manager Alissa Weinman

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