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Offshore Wind by Region: Catch Up on State Activities at IPF 

Luke Jeanfreau

States across the U.S. are shaping the future of offshore energy, investing in port infrastructure, building a resilient supply chain, and positioning themselves for long-term economic growth. In February, Oceantic Network hosted our annual State of the States Webinar Series, where state and regional leaders shared key offshore wind developments, opportunities, and challenges in their markets.  

If you missed it, don’t worry—you can still get the latest updates at the U.S. Offshore Wind Market Update and Regional Breakfasts at the 2025 International Partnering Forum (IPF) in Virginia Beach, April 28 – May 1. While the webinars provided a snapshot of the unique role each region plays in the industry, at IPF you’ll hear conversations between state officials and network with the leaders shaping offshore wind’s future in the U.S. 

Here’s a preview of what to expect. 

Central Atlantic and Northeast: Building Projects and the Supply Chain 

The Northeast remains a leader in offshore wind, despite evolving market dynamics. New York reaffirmed its commitment to its 9 GW offshore wind goal, with its latest procurement round, transmission planning efforts, and more than $500 million in port and manufacturing investments moving forward. New Jersey continues to support its supply chain, with 5 GW of awarded projects and an active offshore wind supply chain registry with over 1,000 companies. 

The Central Atlantic is also becoming a key offshore wind hub, with major investments in infrastructure, supply chain development, and workforce training. Virginia is home to the nation’s largest offshore wind project—Dominion Energy’s 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), which is under construction and will be on display at 2025 IPF for attendees to learn about the project.  Maryland remains focused on offshore wind manufacturing and supply chain expansion, and earlier this year awarded US Wind additional energy credits to increase the capacity of the state’s project.  

Join us at the U.S. Offshore Wind Market Update, taking place Monday, April 28 at IPF, to learn how these regions are putting turbines in the water and strengthening their supply chains.    

New England: Continued Advancement and Opportunities for Collaboration 

New England states are making significant progress. Massachusetts has taken a regional approach to procurement, awarding offshore wind contracts jointly with Rhode Island while investing in workforce training. Rhode Island continues to serve as a supply chain hub, with ProvPort and the Port of Davisville supporting vessel mobilization and cable logistics for multiple projects. Connecticut’s State Pier has already supported three offshore wind projects and continues to play a key role in regional offshore wind logistics. Maine is spearheading floating wind research through the Maine Research Array while also focusing on regional transmission planning and workforce development.  

New England states are also closely watching the advancement of Canada’s offshore wind market. Nova Scotia is expected to hold its first lease auction this year, potentially opening the door to new opportunities for the U.S. supply chain and discussions around cross-border energy collaboration.  

Join the New England and Atlantic Canada Regional Breakfast on Thursday, May 1 at IPF to dive deeper into how these states are navigating the evolving market.  

Gulf Region: Leveraging Offshore Expertise 

The Gulf Region is well-positioned to play a major role in offshore wind development, leveraging its long history in offshore oil and gas, extensive port infrastructure, and skilled maritime workforce.  Louisiana is actively preparing by building on its strong energy workforce and maritime expertise. The state is home to major offshore energy service providers and shipyards that could play a crucial role in turbine assembly, installation, and maintenance.  

Join the Gulf Coast Regional Breakfast on Thursday, May 1 for insights into the Gulf Coast’s massive and growing supply chain.   

West Coast: Preparing for Floating Offshore Wind  

The West Coast is paving the way for floating offshore wind, with efforts underway to build supply chain capacity, upgrade port infrastructure, and coordinate regional planning. California, with a 25 GW floating wind goal, is leading the charge by investing in port readiness studies and transmission planning while preparing to allocate $475 million in climate bond funds for port upgrades. The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) has already approved new high-voltage transmission infrastructure to connect offshore wind from Humboldt Bay to the grid. Both Oregon and Washington are also engaging by building a local framework for the industry, setting standards and assessing transmission, supply chain capabilities, and more.  

Join the West Coast Regional Breakfast on Thursday, May 1 at IPF for more regional insights.  

Don’t miss your chance to stay ahead—register for IPF and secure your spot today!  

Register for IPF 

As energy demand continues to rise in the U.S., the call for reliable and scalable energy sources has never been louder. A new study reveals that American renewable energy technologies, including offshore wind power, are more than ready to meet the increasing demand for energy. This significant finding underscores that in order to meet our nation’s increasing energy demand, we must unleash all forms of American energy, not just some. And offshore wind energy—which is already delivering power—offers a clear path to not only meeting that demand, but also bolstering the American workforce, economy, and national security. 

The study from The Business Council for Sustainable Energy highlights a powerful shift in America’s energy landscape: renewable energy technologies are no longer just an option—they are a necessity. With advancements in wind, solar, and battery storage technologies, the U.S. is positioned to meet its growing energy needs at a pace that fossil fuels alone cannot match. Notably, the research shows that offshore wind energy, with its vast untapped potential along the East, West, and Gulf Coasts (as well as the Great Lakes), is primed to contribute significantly. 

Offshore wind energy represents one of the most promising solutions to America’s growing energy demands. Unlike land-based wind turbines, which are limited by geography and land use, offshore wind farms are placed in vast, open waters, where they can harness stronger, more consistent winds year-round. They have the potential to generate a substantial and predictable amount of energy that’s more consistent than onshore wind, capable of providing baseload capacity to power millions of homes and businesses. This reliability is essential as the U.S. looks to accelerate the production of American-made energy to meet the demands of a growing population, mass electrification, and energy-intensive sectors including AI, data, and manufacturing. 

With five large-scale offshore wind projects now under development along the East Coast, and one already operational, the offshore wind industry is delivering thousands of jobs and billions in investment across a 40-state supply chain. But the economic benefits of offshore wind extend beyond job creation. Investments in this technology also support local economies and boost innovation in clean energy technologies, making America more globally competitive and helping diversify the nation’s energy mix. Offshore wind is a win for our economy and energy security. 

Establishing and meeting energy targets, maintaining tax incentives, shaping policy, and encouraging public-private partnerships are the fundamental building blocks of an industry which support its long-term growth. While the technology behind offshore wind energy has advanced rapidly, its true potential can only be realized with continued support from both the federal and state government. 

As we move forward, it’s important to support policies that enable further American investments in offshore wind energy to help meet the rising demand for reliable and affordable energy. Offshore wind is not just a potential solution – it already exists – and it can help meet our nation’s power demands today and in the future. 

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. 

Proposed lease areas mark new wave of U.S. projects and collectively provide space for 18 GW of projects 

For Immediate Release:  April 30, 2024  
Media Contact:  Luke Jeanfreau | [email protected] | 504-302-8079 

BALTIMORE — The Oceantic Network celebrates today’s announcement by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) of two new offshore lease sales in the Gulf of Maine and off the Oregon Coast. This morning, BOEM issued Proposed Sale Notices (PSNs) for nearly one million acres in the Gulf of Maine, enough to host 15 GW of projects, and just under 200 thousand acres off the coast of Oregon, the second on America’s West Coast and an area with the potential to power over a million homes.  

These two new PSNs represent a potential 18 GW of clean, renewable energy and are the first of a dozen offshore wind lease auctions the Department of Interior announced last week during the Network’s 2024 International Partnering Forum (IPF), the largest offshore wind conference in the Americas. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland made the announcement during the conference’s Plenary Session and later that same day, Maine Governor Janet Mills took the stage to announce her state’s intention to secure up to 3 GW of offshore wind power generation in an upcoming solicitation round. The state simultaneously released a Request for Information seeking public input on the solicitation.  

The following statement can be attributed to Liz Burdock, CEO of Oceantic Network:  

“BOEM’s combined announcement solidifies two new regional markets for floating offshore wind, balancing the development of this industry sector across both coasts. New lease areas in Oregon will support a further buildout of the West Coast’s regional supply chain, adding strength to California projects. And in the Gulf of Maine, this new 15 GW potential will drive the creation of a floating offshore wind supply chain on the East Coast.” 

Additional Information: 

For more information or to arrange an interview with the Network, contact Luke Jeanfreau at [email protected] or 504-302-8079. 

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As a non-profit organization, the Oceantic Network’s driving purpose is to inform, coordinate, and mobilize human ingenuity, enterprise, and labor to take advantage of the urgent need to tap the vast offshore wind and renewable energy resources that lie in the world’s oceans. The collective, coordinated efforts of our 600+ members equip communities and nations to accelerate the transition to clean energy and create economic opportunities. 

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