Offshore Wind Rises in the East
It was almost a year ago that the first offshore wind farm in the U.S. opened off the coast of Rhode Island. While Block Island Wind Farm is relatively small by European wind farm standards—with just five 6 MW wind turbines—it is a major leap forward for the American offshore wind energy market.
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Maritime attorney Joan Bondareff of counsel at Blank Rome, LLP says legislative and gubernatorial commitments to renewable energy are playing a major role in attracting new offshore wind projects. “Developers are flocking to Massachusetts and New York State, where there are commitments by Governor Baker and Governor Cuomo to renewable energy and offshore wind. That’s where you see the most activity. It’s good to see some of the states working collaboratively.”
Bondareff keeps her finger on the pulse of offshore wind development on the Atlantic Coast. She serves as the chair of the Virginia Offshore Wind Development Authority. “Virginia has been doing its own thing,” says Bondareff. “Dominion Energy controls the lease and has recently partnered with the Danish energy company Ørsted (formerly DONG Energy).”
She also points to renewed optimism in New Jersey, where recently elected Governor Phil Murphy has promised to support offshore wind energy development. “New Jersey already has OREC legislation on its books. There are at least two developers who are positioning themselves to work offshore in New Jersey.”
One potential “glitch” in Maryland, says Bondareff, is an amendment that blocks the use of federal funds to conduct reviews of site assessment or construction and operation plans for wind turbines less than 24 nautical miles from Maryland’s shoreline.
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"Offshore Wind Rises in the East," by John R. Snyder was published in the December 2017 edition of Marine Log.