America's First Large-Scale Offshore Wind Project Finally Begins Generating Electricity (wbur.org) 43
A year ago the Washington Post reported "there are only seven working offshore wind turbines in the entire United States," adding that a massive wind project south of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts "is years behind schedule amid regulatory delays and litigation from opponents."
But this week a local public radio station reported that electricity from America's first large-scale offshore wind project "is officially flowing into Massachusetts and helping to power the New England grid." The Vineyard Wind project achieved "first power" late Tuesday when one operating turbine near Martha's Vineyard delivered approximately five megawatts of electricity to the grid. The company said it expects to have five turbines operating at full capacity in early 2024... Once it's finished sometime in 2024, it will consist of 62 turbines spaced about a mile apart and rising more than 800 feet out of the water. The project will generate up to 800 megawatts of power, or about enough electricity for 400,000 homes in Massachusetts.
Another smaller project near Long Island, South Fork Wind, also began producing electricity in early December. When that project is complete, its 12 turbines will generate about 132 megawatts of power...
Massachusetts, in partnership with Rhode Island and Connecticut, is currently seeking bids for another 3,600 megawatts of offshore wind power... "This is a historic moment for the American offshore wind industry," wrote Gov. Maura Healey. "This is clean, affordable energy made possible by the many advocates, public servants, union workers, and business leaders who worked for decades to accomplish this achievement.
Last year America's seven offshore wind turbines generated "a paltry 42 megawatts," according to the article, "far less than the average natural gas power plant."
The CEO of one of the company's behind the project hailed the last 12 months as "a historic year defined by steel in the water and people at work."
But this week a local public radio station reported that electricity from America's first large-scale offshore wind project "is officially flowing into Massachusetts and helping to power the New England grid." The Vineyard Wind project achieved "first power" late Tuesday when one operating turbine near Martha's Vineyard delivered approximately five megawatts of electricity to the grid. The company said it expects to have five turbines operating at full capacity in early 2024... Once it's finished sometime in 2024, it will consist of 62 turbines spaced about a mile apart and rising more than 800 feet out of the water. The project will generate up to 800 megawatts of power, or about enough electricity for 400,000 homes in Massachusetts.
Another smaller project near Long Island, South Fork Wind, also began producing electricity in early December. When that project is complete, its 12 turbines will generate about 132 megawatts of power...
Massachusetts, in partnership with Rhode Island and Connecticut, is currently seeking bids for another 3,600 megawatts of offshore wind power... "This is a historic moment for the American offshore wind industry," wrote Gov. Maura Healey. "This is clean, affordable energy made possible by the many advocates, public servants, union workers, and business leaders who worked for decades to accomplish this achievement.
Last year America's seven offshore wind turbines generated "a paltry 42 megawatts," according to the article, "far less than the average natural gas power plant."
The CEO of one of the company's behind the project hailed the last 12 months as "a historic year defined by steel in the water and people at work."
Re:"The Beating of a Liberal" (Score:4, Insightful)
I prefer my entertainment a bit more cerebral. How about we toss an average Conservative in front of a panel and watch them miserably fail each and every mathematical, medical, scientific, geopolitical, and historical question asked?
Re:"The Beating of a Liberal" (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:1, Insightful)
Aww poor little incel Republicunt is triggered, sad.
Re:"The Beating of a Liberal" (Score:4, Informative)
Congratulations, you just seriously responded to a copy-paste troll.
Finally (Score:2)
Took long enough.
Re:Finally (Score:5, Insightful)
Rich people. Can't disturb their view.
Re: (Score:2)
Looking at what maps and descriptions are available - these are far enough offshore I can't see how these turbines will impact their view much - if at all.
Re: (Score:1)
Tell that to the kennedy family.
AKA: Read you fairly current history.
Re:Finally (Score:4, Informative)
Nobody complains more than the worlds biggest, whiniest, bitch alive:
https://www.politico.com/story... [politico.com]
https://thehill.com/homenews/a... [thehill.com]
https://www.businessinsider.co... [businessinsider.com]
https://www.rechargenews.com/w... [rechargenews.com]
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/d... [cbsnews.com]
Re: (Score:2)
Once a Democrat, always a Democrat.
Re: (Score:1)
Not so. And not true for republicans either. I used to vote republican. Voted republican for three presidents.
Today? I wouldn't vote for any candidate to associate themselves with the republican party. It's turned pro-russian and pro-autocracy.
But some democrats do turn republican as they get older (tho why they want their social security benefits cut is beyond me)
And lately, many republicans have turned democratic.
I think the former republicans will add a bit of a spine and discipline to the Democra
Re: (Score:2)
Yes, ask anyone who's been in the party for decades who doesn't have skin in the game (e.g. isn't running for office) and they'll tell you he isn't really conservative. Or you could just ask one of the people whom he drove inside like George Will.
Re:Finally (Score:4, Insightful)
Looking at what maps and descriptions are available - these are far enough offshore I can't see how these turbines will impact their view much - if at all.
Have you ever dealt with NIMBYs? Practical arguments don't sway them at all. If they know it is there, even if they can't see it, they are opposed.
They are trying to set a precedent of legal and political opposition to deter the next proponent of progress from even thinking of treading on their territory.
When ... (Score:1, Funny)
Re: (Score:1, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
https://www.mvtimes.com/2023/0... [mvtimes.com]
Apparently it started already.
Gasp! (Score:5, Funny)
I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of rich NIMBYs suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Re: (Score:2)
and were suddenly silenced.
That isn't a disturbance, that is us bringing balance to the force.
Re: (Score:2)
the US has finally decided to have a look at modern energy generation.
The US has more installed wind generation than any other country except China.
Most of it is not offshore because of this: Great Plains [wikipedia.org]
Why use an ocean when you have a prairie?
Re:Well, better late than never (Score:4, Insightful)
*It makes more sense to count the EU as one since many countries are already connected to the same "super-grid" & regularly provide surplus electricity to each other. Of the top 15 countries by % wind generation, only Uruguay & Aruba are non-European.
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The main reason to still have offshore wind even when you hand a prairie is that offshore wind is more consistent. As well as the wind in a give area being more consistent out to sea, you can distribute the turbines over a wider area too.
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Hope they bought the extended warranty. (Score:3, Informative)
Re: Hope they bought the extended warranty. (Score:2, Insightful)
This is the fate of all wind projects. Bring publicity, then promptly get forgotten about because repairs and maintenance are more expensive than the government subsidies for building new ones.
Enough for 400,000 Massachusetts homes ? (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
800 megawatts ( 800,000,000 ) divided by 400,000 homes equals 2000 watts per home.
My solar system shows how much used - 42.44kWh on Saturday, 48.04kWh Sunday. An average of 2kW/h per home isn't that far off reality. We're in summer in Australia so there's a couple of ACs running 24/7, plus occasional spikes as other things turn on. Solar covers about half of our usage.
Re: (Score:2)