Deepwater Wind Wants 1GW Offshore Wind Farm off Rhode Island Coast (USA)

Deepwater Wind is proposing a new design for a massive 1000 MegaWatt offshore wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island.

To avoid objections and lawsuits from area residents, Deepwater has developed stronger, four-legged platforms, which would allow much bigger wind turbines to be sited further from land – a daunting 18-27 miles from shore. They could be built in water up to 170 feet deep, over twice the depth of the “monopole” turbines being used today.

The cost of the project: $4-$5 billion. The 200 turbines would supply electricity to multiple states along the East Coast. Deepwater wants to begin construction in 2014 and have the first turbines operating by the end of 2015.

The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is seeking proposals for wind farms on the Outer Continental Shelf off the Massachusetts coast. The 3,000-square mile area of federal waters could produce 4,000 MW. That’s the electricity needed to supply 1.7 million homes, which would supplant all coal-fired plants in the state.

Deepwater Wind Wants 1GW Offshore Wind Farm off Rhode Island Coast (USA) >> Offshore Wind