Biden-Harris administration approves fourth major offshore wind project

By: Chloe Emanuel 22/08/2023 The US Department of the Interior

General Windfarms

The US Department of the Interior has granted approval for the Revolution Wind project, marking another significant stride towards achieving President Biden's target of deploying 30 GW of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030. The project, situated approximately 15 nautical miles southeast of Point Judith, Rhode Island, is set to enhance the nation's clean energy production.

Expected to have a capacity of 704 MW, the Revolution Wind project will provide clean energy to approximately 250,000 homes. This endeavor is projected to create around 1,200 local jobs during its construction phase, reinforcing its positive impact on the community.

This approval represents the fourth of its kind from the Department for commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects. The project joins the ranks of Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts, South Fork Wind off Rhode Island and New York, and Ocean Wind 1 off New Jersey.

Secretary Deb Haaland expressed her confidence in achieving the ambitious 30 GW goal set by President Biden. She emphasized the collaborative efforts between various stakeholders in building a robust offshore wind industry that contributes to the clean energy future. Haaland noted that this achievement is not the conclusion of their efforts; the Department will continue to work closely with partners to address challenges and optimize the success of the US offshore wind sector.

Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi praised the rapid growth of the American offshore wind industry under President Biden's leadership. The sector has attracted over $20 billion in investments, leading to thousands of jobs. Zaidi underscored that the approval of the Revolution Wind project aligns with the administration's goals to strengthen the power grid, reduce energy costs, and combat climate change.

With this milestone, the US Department of the Interior remains on track to review at least 16 offshore wind project plans by 2025, which collectively represent over 27 GW of clean energy capacity.

The approved Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for the Revolution Wind project follows an alternative that strategically reduces the number of wind turbines compared to the original proposal. This decision minimizes impacts on visual resources, benthic habitat, and ocean co-users. The project is committed to implementing mitigation measures, including fishery compensation funds and protective measures for marine species.

For more information about offshore wind farm projects across the globe, click here.

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Biden-Harris administration approves fourth major offshore wind project

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