The US is hoping to catch up to Europe in terms of domestically-produced offshore wind as Biden approves the construction of the nation's first major wind farm.
Photo: Martin Pettitt / Creative Commons License: CC BY
The 800 MW "Vineyard project," set to be located off the coast of Massachusetts, will contain 84 turbines and may create enough energy to power over 400,000 homes and businesses.
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The US president recently pledged to make climate change a national priority and bills this as the first major step in creating a sustainable energy industry that will help the US move away from carbon-heavy industries.
However, the decision has been met with a swift rebuttal by the local fishing industry who claim the project could have calamitous effects on local fish populations owing to increased vessel traffic.
While standards groups claim their pleas have fallen on deaf ears, the developers claim they will take every precaution to minimise the environmental impact.
President Biden has revealed the US's plan to install 30GW of offshore wind energy by 2030, in order to allow the country to better deal with the effects of climate change in an attempt to meet similar climate targets set out globally in accordance with the Paris Climate Agreement.
The government are also drafting up proposals for two further farms, located in New York state.
“A clean energy future is within our grasp in the United States," said Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. The approval of this project is an important step toward advancing the Administration's goals to create good-paying union jobs while combatting climate change and powering our nation."
“Today is one of many actions we are determined to take to open the doors of economic opportunity to more Americans," she added.
This news comes in stark contrast to former President Trump, who often downplayed the effects of global warming in a bid to increase the US's fossil fuel industry, which has faltered under the coronavirus pandemic.
Trump cancelled the Vineyard project's planning process late last year, but it was resumed by Biden once he took office.
The administration claims the plans to build America's new wind power infrastructure will create thousands of living wage-paying jobs and "positioning the US to be a leader in renewable energy."
The $12 billion is being spearheaded via a joint venture between Iberdrola and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Amanda Lefton said the project represents the power of a government-wide approach to offshore wind permitting while allowing for stakeholder input and concerns every step of the way.
“We will continue to advance new projects that will incorporate lessons learned from analyzing this project to ensure an efficient and predictable process for industry and stakeholders," she added.
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Prior to construction, Vineyard Wind must submit a facility design report and a fabrication and installation report. These engineering and technical reports provide specific details for how the facility will be fabricated and installed in accordance with the approved Construction and Operations Plan.
The project is expected to be up and running by 2023, according to the developers.
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