New England turns to offshore wind for cleaner energy

New England is heavily investing in offshore wind energy to reduce its reliance on natural gas and meet future power demands from electrification.

Robert Zullo reports for News From The States.

In short:

• New England's push into offshore wind aims to address concerns about its dependency on natural gas and limited pipeline capacity during extreme cold.
• The Revolution Wind project, delivering energy to Rhode Island and Connecticut, marks significant progress in the offshore wind sector.
• Challenges include supply chain issues, local opposition, and the need for major grid upgrades to handle increased and variable power from wind turbines.

Key quote:

“They can build and design this, it’s really about time, money and the will to do that. The timing piece is the part we’re most concerned with.”

— John Moura, director of reliability assessment at NERC

Why this matters:

Advocates say transitioning to offshore wind is vital for New England's clean energy goals — but it requires overcoming logistical and regulatory hurdles. Success will impact energy reliability and the region's ability to meet rising power demands sustainably.