US first operating commercial-scale offshore wind array South Fork caps 11-year journey
Project has survived legal challenges and hostile presidential administration to begin feeding Long Island Power Authority's grid this year
Orsted marked nearly seven months of commercial operation of its 132MW South Fork Wind array to New York this week with a tour of the wind farm for industry professionals, environmentalists and other stakeholders, and media.
The project followed US flagship Vineyard as the second fully permitted by the federal government in January, 2022, but its smaller size – only 12 turbines, compared to Vineyard’s 64 – allowed it to be built relatively quickly and begin operating this March.
While the project was constructed in less than two years, its operation culminates a more than 11-year journey for one of the nation’s earliest proposed developments.
The 13,700-acre (5,544ha) lease its sits on was acquired in a federal auction in July 2013 by pioneering firm Deepwater Wind New England.
Located 19 miles (30km) south of Block Island, Rhode Island, and 35 miles east of Montauk Point, it was approved by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) in 2017, for an average $163/MWh, including a 2% annual escalator.
The project's early development enabled it to skirt the worst of inflation that derailed nearly all US offshore wind capacity last year, and it stands out as one of the few not forced to renegotiate its offtake contract for better terms.
South Fork also spearheaded major investment in US supply chain.
The project has faced multiple court challenges while surviving the industry slowdown under former President Donald Trump from 2016-20.
The Republican Trump is neck-and-neck with Vice President Kamala Harris for the Democrats and many fear another industry slowdown if he is elected again.
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