As offshore wind development ramps up in the United States, it’s difficult to keep track of the mess: changing lease areas, new projects, status updates… There’s a lot to digest. Fear not, the Offshore Wind Power Hub is here.
The website, run by the Clean Energy States Alliance (CESA) in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), allows stakeholders, the media, and the general public to visualize offshore wind projects across the country and track their development in real-time.
“Detailed, up-to-date information about offshore wind development in the U.S. has not previously been available to the public for free in one easy-to-use, easy-to-access location,” said CESA Executive Director Warren Leon. “By making an extremely complicated technology and policy landscape more easily comprehensible, the Offshore Wind Power Hub will help to advance the equitable development of this transformative clean energy technology.”
In addition to the publicly available interactive map, the Offshore Wind Power Hub also includes an interactive forum and a resource library, available exclusively to offshore wind advocates and state and federal government employees. These sections of the Offshore Wind Power Hub provide a platform for advocates and policymakers to collaborate and share resources. Eligible users can request to join the Power Hub to access the restricted sections of the website.
“The National Wildlife Federation has long advocated for the responsible and transparent development of offshore wind power, and we are thrilled to contribute to this important resource,” said Amber Hewett, senior director for Offshore Wind Energy at NWF. “Developing offshore wind in the U.S. is a complex process involving federal, state, and local action. However, as more states than ever work to advance offshore wind energy, it has become more difficult to track where things stand and how to get involved. The Offshore Wind Power Hub will make information easier to access while fostering collaboration between those who support offshore wind development which protects wildlife, creates high-quality jobs, and invests in communities every step of the way.”
Many renewable energy sectors continued to grow in 2023, but it was a rocky year for U.S. offshore wind. The trend continued into 2024, when BP and Equinor announced the termination of Empire Wind 2.
Renewable Energy World compiled a running list of U.S. offshore undertakings that have been sent to that big wind farm in the sky. Many of the projects are likely to be rebid to utilities and regulators with financial terms that reflect the macroeconomic pressures facing the industry, which is a nice way of saying “costing more.”
Common causes of cancellations include inflation and supply chain disruptions, caused in large part by the war in Ukraine. Developers often expressed openness to continuing projects under offtake agreements, but that sentiment seldom led to survival. A recent report released by the American Clean Power Association (ACP) projects about 14 GW of wind capacity offshore U.S. coastlines by 2030, significantly shy of the goal of 30 GW set by the Biden administration in 2021.
The 2024 Offshore Wind Market Report projects $65 billion will be invested in offshore wind projects by 2030. There are currently 12 GW of projects with active offtake agreements, including 4 GW under active construction at Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, and Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind. China is the global leader in offshore wind capacity, with nearly 38 GW. There is merely 174 MW of offshore wind capacity currently installed in the United States as of June 30.
According to the report, there is 56 GW under development across 37 leases in the United States. Market analysts forecast 30 GW deployed by 2033 and 40 GW online by 2035, quickly making up ground behind the assumedly missed 2030 goal. These outlooks build on the 7.6 GW of offshore wind projects seeking to be operational by the end of 2027, per ACP.
