(MENAFN- The Conversation) The United States'' offshore wind industry is tiny, with just seven wind turbines operating off and . The few attempts to build large-scale wind farms like Europe's have run into long delays, but that may be about to change.
On May 11, 2021, the for the Vineyard Wind project, a utility-scale wind farm that has been over a decade in the planning. The wind farm's developers plan to install 62 giant turbines in the Atlantic Ocean about , Massachusetts, with enough capacity to power 400,000 homes with clean energy.
The project is the first approved since the Biden administration announced a goal in March to develop 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity this decade and promised to accelerate the federal review process. To put that goal in perspective, the U.S. has just 42 megawatts today. Vineyard Wind expects to add 800 megawatts .
So, are we finally seeing the launch of a thriving offshore wind industry in the North America?
Several wind farm developers in prime locations off the Eastern Seaboard, suggesting plenty of interest.
As engineering professors leading the and at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, we have been closely watching the industry's challenges and progress. The process could move quickly once permitting and approvals are on track, but there are still obstacles.
Why offshore wind plans stalled under Trump
Vineyard Wind had in 2019, but a ruling by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management under the Trump administration stalled it. The ruling cast a shadow over other wind farm plans and hopes for an U.S. offshore wind industry.
The that the developers needed to address what is called ''cumulative impacts'' – what the East Coast will look like when there are not one or two, but 20 or 40 large-scale wind farms. That part of the U.S. coast is ideal for wind power because of its wide, shallow shelf and proximity to cities that are looking for renewable electricity to reduce their climate impact.
Developers already hold wind energy leases for several areas off the East Coast. Many researchers studying offshore wind, including some of our colleagues, .
But thinking carefully about a far future with several wind farms does not now. That first large wind farm will be an opportunity to learn, including about how wind turbines will interact with marine ecosystems. Right now there is almost no data on the impacts of offshore wind on the region's marine wildlife. The knowledge gained will be invaluable in moving forward responsibly.
Is fast-tracking federal approvals enough?
Speeding up federal approvals for offshore wind farms is an important first step, but those aren''t the only hurdles for offshore wind farm developers.
A large number of state environmental and coastal agencies also must approve offshore wind farm plans, and the communities where cables come ashore have a say.
Many of the Northeastern states, including Massachusetts, have their own , so they''re likely to support wind farms. But some wealthy communities and the fishing industry in the past. Vineyard Wind's developers worked with community groups and fishermen from the region and them for potential revenue losses.
Vineyard Wind's location and cable plan. The federal approval process, even fast-tracked, is also time-consuming. The and requires site assessment plans, including geological, environmental and hazard surveys. From planning to construction, the entire process can or more.
Is the US ready to build offshore turbines?
Some other big questions revolve around construction.
Under a 1920 law known as the , only U.S.-registered vessels operated by U.S. citizens or permanent residents can move cargo between U.S. ports. In December 2020, Congress made clear that this law , too.
When companies build offshore wind turbines today, they use for the installation of the most common offshore turbine designs. The U.S. doesn''t have any of these vessels yet, and the Jones Act makes it difficult to rely on vessels from Europe to do the job. There is promise, though: The in Texas right now. That's one – the country will need several to meet the new goal.
Vineyard Wind's plan uses one of the world's largest turbines, GE's Haliade-X, to reduce the number of turbines needed. Each has a capacity of 13 megawatts and blades the length of a football field. A thriving wind power industry will also need ports for storing and deploying the long turbine blades, plus a trained workforce for construction and turbine maintenance.
A few coastal states have a head start on this. Massachusetts started laying the groundwork early and already has a port to support the construction and deployment of future offshore wind projects. New Jersey recently announced a plan for a , and Delaware has been .
States are also investing in training. New York state announced a US$20 million in January 2021 with the goal of training 2,500 workers. The Biden administration envisions in offshore wind by 2030, and many more in communities connected to offshore wind power activity.
Costs and benefits of offshore wind
In Europe, where many governments have to the industry, the has come down , to around . If the Biden administration's new approach allows U.S. wind farms to achieve costs like this, then offshore wind, with its proximity to large urban centers on the East Coast, will be competitive.
It's also important to recognize other benefits. Every year of delay for a large-scale wind farm costs the U.S. . The Biden administration calculates that its new wind power goal would of carbon dioxide, roughly equivalent to taking cars off the road for a year.
This article updates a published March 31, 2021.
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