In July 2024, The Barr Foundation’s Climate Program released the findings of a poll of voters from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut assessing their sentiments about clean energy and regional collaboration to build more clean energy supply for the region.
The poll, conducted by Hart Research, surveyed over 1,200 registered voters across the three states, and found that broad majorities both see the importance of renewable energy and view offshore wind as a key part of their states’ clean energy future. The poll also revealed that voters strongly support collaboration on offshore wind development between their states. This is particularly significant as the three states have recently initiated a historic tri-state offshore wind procurement, potentially bringing up to 6,000 MW of offshore wind power, jobs and millions in local investment to the New England region. Oceantic Network has long advocated for regional procurement and released a statement in support of the collaboration.
This level of public support for offshore wind demonstrates the realization of the economic benefits coming from the first wave of offshore wind projects underway at South Fork Wind, Vineyard Wind 1, and the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project. Billions of dollars of investment, thousands of jobs, and a substantial increase in port activity are flowing into these states, setting them up to serve the growing industry for years to come.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island served as early hubs for offshore wind project development, and many early movers set up operations in these states. Rhode Island became home to the nation’s first offshore wind farm in 2016 with the Block Island Wind Farm, a proof of concept that set the stage for the current era of project development. Massachusetts is now home to largest U.S. offshore wind farm currently in operation, Vineyard Wind 1, which is still undergoing installation activities.
Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, along with seven other Northeast states, also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in July 2024, formalizing their already ongoing efforts to collaborate on regional transmission infrastructure improvements. These transmission upgrades will be critical to integrating new offshore wind energy in the grid.
In short, the Northeast is pushing full speed ahead on offshore wind, and the region’s residents are broadly supportive:
Massachusetts:
- 75% favor a move towards renewable energy
- 75% believe offshore wind will positively impact energy independence
- 69% believe it will positively impact jobs and the state economy
- 71% believe it will positively impact climate change
- 64% believe it will positively impact energy prices.
Connecticut:
- 68% favor a move towards renewable energy
- 72% believe offshore wind will positively impact energy independence
- 65% believe it will positively impact jobs and the state economy
- 63% believe it will positively impact climate change
- 56% believe it will positively impact energy prices.
Rhode Island:
- 67% favor a move towards renewable energy
- 64% believe offshore wind will positively impact energy independence
- 66% believe it will positively impact jobs and the state economy
- 57% believe it will positively impact climate change
- 53% believe it will positively impact energy prices.
In addition to understanding the importance of offshore wind to a clean energy future, the survey also found that voters support the collaboration amongst Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island to work together to build offshore wind projects. 77% of Massachusetts voters, 75% of Connecticut Voters, and 67% of Rhode Island voters support these tri-state offshore wind efforts.
The full results of the survey are available here.