Rhode Island
Rhode Island is home to the country’s first offshore wind farm – the Block Island Wind Farm – which generates 30MW of offshore wind and has supplied 17,000 households with renewable energy since 2016. This wind farm was sited through the internationally recognized marine spatial planning process – the Rhode Island Ocean Special Area Management Plan (OceanSAMP)
In addition to preparing for the development of Revolution Wind (400 MW), Rhode Island is bolstering its workforce, ports and supply chain infrastructure to respond to the accelerated growth of this new blue economy industry.
The state has also undertaken a public process to identify a preferred submerged renewable energy cable route from offshore wind farms into and through state waters that will aid in minimizing impacts to coastal resources and coastal activities
What is going on in RI?
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1000 MW Procurement
In 2022, Governor McKee signed a new law calling for an additional 600 to 1,000 MW of offshore wind, which has the potential to meet at least 30% of Rhode Island’s estimated 2030 electricity demand.
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Quonset Business Park
Quonset Business Park and the Port of Davisville is modernizing to become a hub for the offshore wind industry wile creating opportunities for more shipping, jobs and revenue for Rhode Island.
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Prov Port
Waterson Terminals, at ProvPort will be home to the nations first offshore wind cable storage yard. Additionally, Orsted and Eversource are currently constructing a new facility that will be used to support construction of turbine components.
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WindWinRI
WindWinRI’s mission is to initiate, design, and implement a career pathway training system by establishing an on-going pipeline to meet the near term and future offshore wind workforce needs in Rhode Island. This training system approach stretches from primary and secondary education, post-secondary pathways, as well as incumbent, underemployed and unemployed workers.
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Portsmouth Community Events
Rhode Island Saltwater Angler Association (RISAA), the Town of Portsmouth, the University of Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center and Rhode Island Sea Grant have partnered together to organize free educational events around offshore wind energy topics identified by the community. Learn more.
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Multi-Use in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Sea Grant’s Offshore Wind team is part of an international project, Belmont Forum’s MultiFrame, looking at creating synergies between offshore wind and other marine users, specifically commercial fishermen and recreational anglers. Learn more about the project here.
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The BIWF is the nations first offshore wind farm. It operated in RI state waters, providing power to Block Island and the mainland.
Location: 3 miles off of Block Island, Rhode Island (within state waters)
Receiving state: RI
Energy Capacity: 30 MW, 5 turbines -
OCS-A 0486
Location: more than 15 miles south of RI coast, 32 miles southwest of CT
Area (acres): 82,732
Receiving state: CT and RI
MW: 704 MW (400 MW to RI, 304 MW to CT)
Expected operation date: 2025
Number of turbines: <= 100
Developer: Orsted and Eversource
Number of homes powered: 246,400
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While NY is receiving the energy from South Fork, it is within Rhode Island Geographic Location Description (GLD) which means that the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council must complete a Federal Consistency Review (FCR) which gives the state review authority for federal actions that could affect state coastal uses or resources.
OCS-A 0517
Location: 19 miles from Block Island, 21 miles from Martha’s Vineyard, 35 miles from Montauk
Area (acres): 13,700
Receiving state: NY
MW: 132 MW
Expected operation date: 2023
Number of turbines: 12
Developer: Orsted and Eversource
Draft Construction and Operations Plan
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While NY is receiving the energy from Sunrise Wind, it is within Rhode Island Geographic Location Description (GLD) which means that the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council must complete a Federal Consistency Review (FCR) which gives the state review authority for federal actions that could affect state coastal uses or resources.
Location: 19 miles from Block Island, 21 miles from Martha’s Vineyard, 35 miles from Montauk
Area (acres): 109,952
Receiving state: NY
MW: 924 MW
Proposed date of operation: 2025
Number of turbines: <=122
Developer: Orsted and Eversource
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(formerly Mayflower Wind)
The South Coast Wind Export Cable Route travels through Rhode Island waters and, therefore, Rhode Island’s Coastal Resources Center has jurisdiction over the cable permitting.
OCS-A 0521
Location: 30 miles from Martha's Vineyard, 23 miles from Nantucket
Area (acres): 127,388
Receiving state: MA
MW: 804 MW initially to MA. Mayflower Wind is exploring additional off take opportunities
Proposed date of operation: 2028
Number of turbines: <=147
Developer: Shell New Energies and Ocean Winds (Ocean Winds is a joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE)
Number of homes powered: 281, 400
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While MA is receiving the energy from Vineyard Wind, it is within Rhode Island Geographic Location Description (GLD) which means that the Rhode Island Coastal Resources Management Council must complete a Federal Consistency Review (FCR) which gives the state review authority for federal actions that could affect state coastal uses or resources.
OCS-A 0501
Location: approx. 14 miles from Martha’s Vineyard and 14 miles from Nantucket.
Area (acres): 65,296
Receiving state: MA
MW: 800 MW
Expected operation date: 2023
Number of turbines: <= 100
Developer: Avengrid and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners
Number of homes powered: 280,000
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OCS-A 0534
The New England Wind project is being done in two phases. Phase 1 is Park City Wind and will be closes to Vineyard Wind 1. Phase 2 is Commonwealth Wind.
Location: 20 miles from Martha's Vineyard, 24 miles from Nantucket
Area (acres): 101,590
Receiving state: Park City Wind to CT, Commonwealth Wind to MA
MW: Park City Wind is 804 MW, Commonwealth Wind is 1200-1500 MW in COP, 1232 MW in MA agreement
Estimated date of operation: 2025
Number of turbines: <=130
Developer: Avengrid Renewables
