The first commercial-scale US offshore wind power project has delayed its application for federal approval in a move that will leave a final decision in the hands of a renewables-friendly Biden administration. Vineyard Wind, whose turbines would stand 15 miles south of the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, is a test case for more than a dozen wind leases in federal waters along the US Atlantic coast.
The 800 megawatt project has been postponed repeatedly during an environmental review by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, part of the US interior department. The delays have frustrated clean-energy advocates who see the nascent US offshore wind sector as critical to removing carbon emissions from the nation’s power supply.
As part of his clean energy strategy, incoming president Joe Biden wants the US to install tens of thousands of wind turbines, a technology Donald Trump has criticised for providing intermittent power and killing birds.Lars Pedersen, Vineyard Wind’s chief executive, said the impending switch at the White House was “not a factor in our decision” to withdraw the application.Recommended Instead, he said the company had made its move after the government again stretched out its review timeline last month in a move that would have led to final action by January 15. Mr Biden is
Vineyard Wind this week chose General Electric to replace Danish group Vestas as its preferred turbine supplier, meaning it would only need 62 units to reach its target capacity rather than 84 under its previous plan.