States and companies aim to expand offshore wind

NEW YORK, Nov. 1, 2017 - Several states pledged to scale up their efforts in the wind industry at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore WINDPOWER Conference in New York. Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York each have policies in place that will drive significant offshore wind capacity growth. “New York intends to be the preeminent global hub for the next generation of the wind industry,” said the state’s lieutenant governor, Kathy Hochul, during welcoming remarks. “Offshore wind is essential to meet New York’s ambitious energy goal.” New York’s goal is to develop 2,400 megawatts of offshore wind. There are 17 U.S. offshore wind projects in various stages of development off the East and West Coasts as well as the Great Lakes, representing over 9,100 megawatts of capacity. Leading offshore wind turbine manufacturers General Electric, MHI Vestas, and Siemens Gamesa were represented at the conference. MHI Vestas announced a $35 million investment to test their most powerful 9.5 MW offshore wind turbines at Clemson University in South Carolina, a significant step that signals confidence in the U.S. market. Gulf Coast-based company Zentech Inc. recently announced plans to build the first U.S. offshore wind installation vessel.