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America's first commercial-scale offshore wind farm is officially open, a long-awaited moment that helps pave the way for a succession of large wind farms. The Biden administration has approved six commercial-scale offshore wind energy projects, and auctioned lease areas for offshore wind for the first time off the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Ørsted CEO Mads Nipper called the opening a major milestone that proves large offshore wind farms can be built, both in the United States and in other countries with little or no offshore wind energy currently. The first U.S. offshore wind farm was supposed to be a project off the coast of Massachusetts known as Cape Wind. The nation's second large offshore wind farm, Vineyard Wind, is expected to open later this year off the coast of Massachusetts, too.

Persons: Ørsted, Kathy Hochul, Deb Haaland, Biden, Hochul, “, ” Hochul, Eversource, Mads Nipper, Equinor, David Hardy, Ørsted . Ørsted, It’s, it’s, Haaland Organizations: Montauk Point , New York . New York Gov, . New York, Fork, Associated Press, Ørsted ., DONG Energy, Danish Oil, Gas, Industry, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners Locations: Montauk Point , New York ., Gulf of Mexico, . New, York, Rhode Island, Long, United States, New York, Norwegian, Denmark, Germany, U.S, Massachusetts, Avangrid, Copenhagen, AP.org

☆ New England states join to buy offshore wind power as US industry struggles
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

By joining forces, the states hope to counter the pain rippling across the nascent U.S. offshore wind industry, which is expected to play a key part in decarbonizing the power sector and revitalizing domestic manufacturing. The three states will seek multi-state offshore wind proposals for selection in 2024 for up to 6,000 megawatts (MW) of power. “One year ago, Avangrid was the first offshore wind developer in the United States to make public the unprecedented economic headwinds facing the industry," Avangrid said in a release. Avangrid has said it planned to rebid the Park City project in future offshore wind solicitations. Those Massachusetts power companies include units of Eversource Energy (ES.N), National Grid (NG.L) and Unitil (UTL.N).

Persons: Brian Snyder, Maura Healey, Avangrid, France's, Scott DiSavino, Aurora Ellis Organizations: REUTERS, American, Offshore WINDPOWER Conference, Eversource Energy, Grid, Shell, Thomson Locations: Rhode, U.S, New England, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, Connecticut, Boston, Park City, United States, Park

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Orsted A/S FollowSept 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden's plan to deploy 30,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind by 2030 is still possible, although not easy, the CEO of Orsted (ORSTED.CO), the world's largest offshore wind developer, said on Monday at the Climate Week NYC event in New York. The Biden administration has passed lucrative subsidies aimed at helping companies build new offshore wind power capacity to help decarbonize the power sector and revitalize domestic manufacturing. But offshore wind developers have said that certain tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden's landmark climate change law, are insufficient and are lobbying for less stringent rules around qualifying for the credits. Last week, the governors of six Northeastern states urged Biden to direct his administration to take actions to support struggling offshore wind projects. Offshore wind is crucial to the targets of Northeast states who want to move away from fossil fuel-fired electricity.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Joe Biden's, Mads Nipper, Nipper, Biden, Scott DiSavino, Nichola Groom, Shariq Khan, Mark Porter, Marguerita Choy Organizations: U.S . Coast Guard, REUTERS, Biden, Rhode, Thomson Locations: Rhode, New York, Danish, Maryland , Connecticut , Massachusetts , New Jersey , New York, U.S, Los Angeles

BOSTON (AP) — When it comes to hurricanes, New England can't compete with Florida or the Caribbean. Lee remained a Category 1 hurricane late Friday night with sustained winds of 80 mph (128 kph). One recent study found climate change could result in hurricanes expanding their reach more often into mid-latitude regions, which include New York, Boston and even Beijing. While hurricanes and tropical storms are uncommon in New England, the region has been seen its share of violent weather events. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 brought gusts as high as 186 mph (300 kph) and sustained winds of 121 mph (195 kph) at Massachusetts’ Blue Hill Observatory.

Persons: Lee, ”, Joshua Studholme, they’re, Andra Garner, Garner, Kerry Emanuel, Emanuel, “, ” Garner, Hurricanes Carol, Edna, Hurricane Bob, Superstorm Sandy, Storm Irene, Michael Casey Organizations: BOSTON, Yale University, U.S ., Rowan University, New, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hurricanes, Hurricane, AP Locations: New England, Florida, of Maine, England, Canadian, of Nova Scotia, Massachusetts, Maine, New York, Boston, Beijing, Boston , New York, Norfolk , Virginia, New Englanders, U.S, U.S . East Coast, New Jersey, New York City, Gulf, Atlantic City , New Jersey, Vermont

But scientists said Friday that the arrival of storms like Hurricane Lee this weekend could become more common in the region as the planet warms, including in places such as the Gulf of Maine. One recent study found climate change could result in hurricanes expanding their reach more often into mid-latitude regions, which includes New York, Boston and even Beijing. Lee remained a hurricane with 80 mph (128 kph) winds at 2 p.m. EDT Friday as it headed toward New England and eastern Canada with 20-foot (6-meter) ocean swells, strong winds and rain. While hurricanes and tropical storms are uncommon in New England, the region has been seen its share of violent weather events. The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 brought gusts as high as 186 mph (300 kph) and sustained winds of 121 mph (195 kph) at Massachusetts’ Blue Hill Observatory.

Persons: Lee, Joshua Studholme, they’re, ”, Andra Garner, Kerry Emanuel, Emanuel, “, ” Garner, Hurricanes Carol, Edna, Bob, Superstorm Sandy, Storm Irene, Garner, Michael Casey Organizations: BOSTON, Yale University, U.S ., Rowan University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Hurricanes, AP Locations: New England, Florida, of Maine, New York, Boston, Beijing, Boston , New York, Norfolk, Virginia, New Englanders, U.S, U.S . East Coast, New York City, Maine, Gulf, Canada, England, Massachusetts, —, Atlantic City , New Jersey, Vermont

☆ Biden’s offshore wind target slipping out of reach as projects struggle
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-15 | by ( Nichola Groom | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The 2030 target, unveiled shortly after Biden took office, is central to Biden's broader plan to decarbonize the U.S. economy by 2050. The energy research firm expects 21 GW of offshore wind along U.S. shores in 2030, breaking 30 GW by 2032. Still, offshore wind developers including Orsted have said the IRA’s subsidies are insufficient for projects to thrive in the current environment, and are lobbying the administration for additional concessions. The nation currently has just two pilot-scale offshore wind farms capable of producing 42 megawatts of electricity. Stephanie McClellan, executive director of the offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward, said making sure the first fleet of projects succeeds was more important than a particular timeline.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Kris Ohleth, It's, Samantha Woodworth, Wood Mackenzie, Michael Brown, France's, it's, Kelly Penot, Rousseau, Orsted, Michael Kikukawa, Samah Shaiq, Shaiq, Doreen Harris, NYSERDA, Elizabeth Mahony, Stephanie McClellan, Nichola Groom, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, BP, Shell, Companies, Developers, Ocean Winds, Reuters, Biden, U.S . Department of Energy, DOE, New York State Energy Research, Development Authority, New York State Department of Public Service, Equinor, Orsted . Massachusetts Department of Energy, Office of Energy, Environmental Affairs, New, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, Thomson Locations: Rhode, U.S, North American, Massachusetts, Gulf of Mexico, Europe, Asia, China, United Kingdom, New Jersey, New York, Orsted .

(AP) — Hurricane Lee looks poised to wallop New England later this week even as the region still deals with the impact of days of wild weather that produced torrential rain, flooding, sinkholes and a likely tornado. Areas from Watch Hill, Rhode Island, to Stonington, Maine — including Block Island, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket — are under a tropical storm watch. The National Weather Service in Boston said radar data and videos showed it was likely that a tornado damaged trees and power lines in Rhode Island and Connecticut on Wednesday. Heavy rain turned his swimming pool into a mud pit and filled his basement with 3 feet (91 centimeters) of water. In Providence, Rhode Island, downpours flooded a parking lot and parts of a shopping mall.

Persons: Hurricane Lee, Dan McKee, “, ” McKee, Sean Pope, ”, Maura Healey, Matthew Belk, Healey, Hurricane Lee didn’t, Dean Mazzarella, Mazarella Organizations: U.S ., National Hurricane Center, Cape, National Weather Service, Rhode, Gov, Massachusetts Gov, Firefighters Locations: LEOMINSTER, Mass, Hurricane, wallop New England, Stonington , Maine, U.S, Watch Hill, Rhode Island, Nantucket, Massachusetts, Rhode, Boston, Rhode Island and Connecticut, Lincoln , Rhode Island, Attleborough , Massachusetts, Leominster , Massachusetts, Providence , Rhode Island, Leominster, Danbury , Connecticut, Nova Scotia, Canada, England, Vermont

POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. (AP) — As the U.S. races to build offshore wind power projects, transforming coastlines from Maine to South Carolina, much remains unknown about how the facilities could affect the environment. So far, four offshore wind projects have been approved by the federal government for the U.S. East Coast, according to the American Clean Power Association. The company is a Danish wind power business that will build two of the three offshore projects approved for New Jersey. Numerous others have been proposed, and the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management plans to review at least 16 offshore wind projects by 2025. The federal government has endorsed — but not required — compensation to the fishing industry for negative effects from offshore wind.

Persons: ”, Jim Hutchinson, ’, Greg Cudnik, Andy Lipsky, Phil Sgro, Meghan Lapp, “, Keith Craffey, Sgro, —, Frank Pallone Jr, Wayne Parry Organizations: PLEASANT, The Fisherman, U.S ., American Clean Power Association, Atlantic, U.S . Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Fisheries Science, Biden Administration, Seafreeze, New, Baymen’s, Association, U.S . Commerce Department, Orsted, U.S . Rep, New Jersey Democrat, Twitter Locations: N.J, U.S, Maine, South Carolina, New Jersey, U.S . East Coast, , New York, Montauk, Atlantic City, Ocean City, Danish, Point Judith, Rhode Island, , New Jersey, American, —, United States, America, North Kingstown, New, Raritan, New York, New England, Block Island

However, as government policies started to line up in the industry's favor in recent years, offshore wind developers unveiled a host of new project proposals, mostly off the U.S. East Coast. Many contracts for offshore wind projects have no mechanism for adjustment in the case of higher interest rates or costs. In New York, offshore wind developers also sought to boost the price of power produced at their projects. Norway's Equinor EQNR.OL and its partner BP (BP.L) are seeking a 54% increase for the power produced at three planned offshore wind farms - Empire Wind 1 and 2 and Beacon Wind. But the offshore wind industry is not fully satisfied.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kevin Lamarque, Eli Rubin, Rubin, Equinor, France's, Scott DiSavino, Nerijus, Nichola Groom, Simon Webb, Marguerita Choy Organizations: Federal, State, White, REUTERS, U.S ., Dominion, EBW Analytics, Reuters, U.S . Federal Reserve, Commonwealth, BP, Nichola, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, U.S, Europe, U.S . East Coast, Rhode, Virginia, Massachusetts, New York, Oslo, Culver City

☆ Column: US offshore wind sector faces key test after weak Gulf auction
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-30 | by ( Gavin Maguire | Thomson Reuters | Gavin Maguire Is The Global Energy Transition Columnist. He Was Previously Asia Commodities | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLITTLETON, Colorado, Aug 29 (Reuters) - The low interest in the first-ever auction of offshore wind farm development rights in the Gulf of Mexico marks a potentially serious setback for U.S. President Joe Biden's green energy agenda, and the U.S. offshore wind sector in general. U.S. officials had touted the auction as a key milestone in Biden's agenda to make offshore wind a cornerstone of U.S. efforts to fight fossil-fuel-driven climate change. In addition to lower wind speeds and hurricane risks, potential wind farm developers in the Gulf waters must also accommodate relatively lower local power market prices than other parts of the United States, which greatly undermines wind power earning potential in the region. As offshore wind power systems are still in their relative infancy compared with other power sources, the average cost of power generated from offshore sites can be twice the cost of that from a gas-fired plant. Without a viable offshore wind sector, those industries may now struggle to secure the quantities of green hydrogen they may be anticipating in coming decades, and so could look for ways to support the wind sector's development in the years ahead.

Persons: Brian Snyder, Joe Biden's, Biden, hesitancy, Gavin Maguire, Matthew Lewis Organizations: U.S . Coast Guard, REUTERS, Offshore, U.S ., Gulf, Shell, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Rhode, LITTLETON , Colorado, Gulf, Mexico, U.S, Louisiana, Northeast, Texas, United States, U.S . East Coast , New York, New Jersey, Gulf Coast, Gulf of Mexico, Littleton , Colorado

☆ Taylor Swift friendship bracelets: Etsy shop owners capitalize on Eras Tour craze by making concert bracelets as a side hustle
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Samantha Murphy Kelly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The 46-year-old mother said she sold over 5,000 Taylor Swift-themed friendship bracelets on her Etsy shop this summer, bringing in about $16,000 in sales. She is part of a group of Etsy shop owners who are selling Swift-themed bracelets for serious cash. Her daughter suggested listing them on her Etsy shop, which typically sells hairbows and headbands for babies and toddlers. “I will continue to make them as long as people want them.”Jamie Thompkins has sold more than 5,000 friendship bracelets to Taylor Swift concertgoers. Similar to the other Etsy shop owners, Papson put her leftover friendship bracelets online and has earned about $1800 so far.

Persons: Jamie Thompkins, Taylor Swift, ” Thompkins, Thompkins, ”, “, ” Jamie Thompkins, Jamie Thompkins Swift, ” Swift, You’ve, Swift, Jennifer Garner, Gigi Hadid, Jennifer Lawrence, Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban, Travis Kelce, Taylor roberts, Taylor Roberts, we’ve, hasn’t, There’s, Aimee Papson, Roberts, ” Roberts, …, ” Aimee Papson, Taylor, Papson, Papon Organizations: CNN, Kansas City, Swift, Gillette Locations: Oklahoma City , Oklahoma, Arlington , Texas, Los Angeles, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Boston, Block Island, Rhode Island, Nashville

☆ China is installing offshore wind turbines as tall as 30 Rock in the Taiwan Strait
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( Rebecca Harrington | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

China recently switched on a 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine in the Taiwan Strait. It's the largest, most powerful turbine in the world, at 499 feet tall with 404-foot blades. That dwarfs the size and capacity of American and European wind turbines currently in use. For comparison, the Block Island Wind Farm off the coast of Rhode Island has five wind turbines capable of generating 30 megawatts of electricity combined, which the company behind it says can power 17,000 homes. Workers install the world's first 16-megawatt offshore wind turbine at an offshore wind farm operated by China Three Gorges Corporation on June 28, 2023 in Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone, Fujian Province of China.

Persons: IFLScience, Lyu, GREG BAKER, it's, China doesn't Organizations: Service, Privacy, Gorges Corporation, Workers, China Three Gorges Corporation, China News Service, Getty, GE Locations: China, Taiwan Strait, Rhode, Fujian Province, New York City, Pingtan, Taiwan, China's, Fujian, AFP

☆ From GE to Siemens, the wind energy industry hopes billions in losses are about to end
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-17 | by ( Bob Woods | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

The wind farm includes 132 2-megawatt Gamesa G80 wind turbines along 12 miles of the Allegheny Front. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesIt's been a tough couple of years for the U.S. wind energy industry. Although 2023 is expected to remain sluggish, GE Renewable Energy, Siemens Energy and Vestas Wind Systems, the leading makers of wind turbines — outside of China, which has built the world's largest wind energy infrastructure — and their suppliers are banking on growth over the next decade, particularly in the nascent offshore wind niche. "The wind energy market is stuck in this very strange paradox right now," said Aaron Barr, an industry analyst at Wood Mackenzie. Comparatively, the U.S. offshore wind industry is just ramping up after years of delays in permitting, environmental approvals and power purchasing agreements with utilities that buy wind energy.

☆ Biden Interior proposes first offshore wind lease sale in Gulf of Mexico
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Emma Newburger | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The Biden administration on Wednesday proposed the first-ever offshore wind lease sale in the Gulf of Mexico as part of a larger plan to install offshore wind sites along the country's coasts. The proposed lease sale is part of the Interior Department's plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by the end of the decade, which would be enough to power 10 million homes. The announcement also follows the agency's approval of the first two commercial scale offshore wind projects in the U.S. The proposed lease areas could collectively power nearly 1.3 million homes with clean energy, the Interior said. Last year, the administration released a five-year offshore drilling plan allowing some lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico.

☆ Sale jumpstarts floating, offshore wind power in U.S. waters
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

The cost of developing offshore wind has dropped 60% since 2010 according to a July report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. Offshore wind is well established in the U.K. and some other countries but is just beginning to ramp up off America’s coasts, and this is the nation’s first foray into floating wind turbines. Europe has some floating offshore wind — a project in the North Sea has been operating since 2017 — but the potential for the technology is huge in areas of strong wind off America’s coasts, said Josh Kaplowitz, vice president of offshore wind at the American Clean Power Association. President Joe Biden set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2030 using traditional technology that secures wind turbines to the ocean floor, enough to power 10 million homes. Then the administration announced plans in September to develop floating platforms that could vastly expand offshore wind in the United States.

Democrat Seth Magaziner defeated Republican Allan Fung in Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District. Rhode Island's 2nd District is located in the western region of the state. Democrat Seth Magaziner defeated Republican Allan Fung in Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District, which is located in the western region of the state. In 2008, he was elected as mayor of Cranston, becoming Rhode Island's first Asian-American mayor. Voting history for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional DistrictRhode Island's 2nd Congressional District is located in the western region of the state and includes Providence, the capital and most populous city in the state, and New Shoreham, located in Block Island, south of mainland Rhode Island.

☆ Democrat Seth Magaziner faces off against Republican Allan Fung in Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District election
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( Hanna Kang | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Democrat Seth Magaziner is running against Republican Allan Fung in Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District. Rhode Island's 2nd District is located in the western region of the state. Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional District candidatesMagaziner, who has been serving as the state's general treasurer since 2015, originally announced his candidacy for governor of Rhode Island before withdrawing from the gubernatorial election to run for Congress. In 2008, he was elected as mayor of Cranston, becoming Rhode Island's first Asian-American mayor. Voting history for Rhode Island's 2nd Congressional DistrictRhode Island's 2nd Congressional District is located in the western region of the state and includes Providence, the capital and most populous city in the state, and New Shoreham, located in Block Island, south of mainland Rhode Island.

☆ The Great Northeast Wind Bailout
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-17 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The five turbines of America's first offshore wind farm, owned by the Danish company, Orsted, stand off the coast of Block Island, R.I., Oct. 17, 2022. Photo: David Goldman/Associated PressIf only the hot air blowing at the United Nations’ Climate Ambition Summit this week could be used to generate electric power. That would be especially convenient since Governors in the Northeast are lobbying the White House to bail out their states’ offshore wind projects, which have hit a gale of ballooning costs.

Persons: David Goldman Organizations: Associated, United Nations Locations: Danish, Block

☆ From Nantucket to Martha's Vineyard: Island hopping in New England the easy way
▼ + stars: | 2020-02-14 | by ( Heidi Sarna | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket and Block Island are classic New England islands. Martha's Vineyard is beloved for its frilly, gingerbread-style Victorian cottages in Oak Bluffs as well as the dramatic headlands of Aquinnah. The itinerary includes stops at New Bedford, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard and Block Island in Massachusetts; and Newport and Bristol in Rhode Island. Starting late August of this year, Norwegian Cruise Lines' 2,394-passenger Norwegian Gem will run a seven-night New England cruise out of Boston, which includes stops at Martha's Vineyard and Newport. kickstandIn 2021, Victory Cruise Lines' 202-passenger Victory I will begin seven-night cruises from St. John (Canada) to Boston, making stops at Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.

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