Val Stori

As floating wind nears commercialization, the technology’s potential role in reducing costs for projects in deep waters has become increasingly attractive in numerous markets.

Last Friday, after a day and a half of auction proceedings, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management declared Statoil Wind US LLC as the provisional winner of its New York Wind Energy Area lease sale.

In the coming days, Block Island Wind Farm, the nation’s first offshore wind project, will be delivering electricity to the grid.

Over 400 developers, marine industries, state and federal agency representatives, environmental advocates, state representatives, and manufacturing and supply chain companies gathered in Newport, Rhode Island earlier this week at the International Partners Forum.

As you drive through the small, bucolic town of Orono, Maine to the University of Maine’s main campus, you would not initially expect to find a world-class research center dedicated to the development of innovative advanced structures and composite materials.

Strong winds, advanced offshore wind technology, and a large market all come together in New York where the US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management recently designated 81,130 acres as a commercial wind energy area.

NYSERDA’s announcement that it will participate in the BOEM auction of the New York Wind Energy Area is an exciting and potentially significant opportunity for offshore wind development.

Back in June, US offshore wind proponents heralded the arrival of DONG Energy to our Atlantic shores.

The Department of Energy has awarded around a half-million dollars to New York, Maine, Rhode Island and Massachusetts state organizations to cooperate on scaling up the offshore wind industry in the region. CESA will help coordinate the interstate project.