By Brooke Thomson
President and CEO

There is good news in the waters off Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.   Revolution Wind and Vineyard Wind 1, both developed by AIM members, have started to send electricity to the region’s power grid.  These two projects will ultimately provide enough electricity to power three quarters of a million homes and businesses throughout southern New England while adding billions of dollars to the economy.

Ongoing progress at these American energy projects comes despite significant regulatory headwinds from the federal government that have undermined New England’s ability to add energy generation and meet its reliability needs.

The Trump Administration in January 2025 initiated a freeze on new offshore wind leasing and permitting. In December, the Interior Department paused five major East Coast projects that were already under construction. While courts have granted preliminary injunctions allowing those projects to resume building, the administration continues to use procedural delays to slow development of this important new American energy industry.

The economic footprints of Revolution Wind and Vineyard Wind 1 are staggering.

Revolution Wind, a 704 MW offshore wind energy project developed by Skyborn Renewables and AIM-member Ørsted, is expected to power more than 350,000 homes and businesses in New England when it reaches commercial operation later this year. The project will deliver electricity under fixed-price, 20-year agreements with energy utilities in Rhode Island and Connecticut, providing long-term price certainty and stability for consumers.

Revolution Wind has supported more than 2,000 workers across U.S. construction, operations, shipping, and manufacturing, including more than 1,000 local union labor workers logging more than 2 million hours on the project. Across its U.S. offshore projects, Ørsted is investing $700 million into domestic shipbuilding and vessel contracts, catalyzing construction of 14 new, American-made vessels.

“Revolution Wind is adding affordable, reliable American-made energy to New England’s grid, helping to meet growing energy demand and lower consumer costs,” said Amanda Dasch, Chief Development Officer at Ørsted.

“Built by local, highly skilled union workers, Revolution Wind is a testament to states tapping their energy resources to strengthen regional energy security and contribute to American energy dominance.”

Vineyard Wind 1, the nation’s first utility-scale offshore wind energy project, was co-developed by AIM member Avangrid 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard. The 806-megawatt project consists of an array of 62 wind turbines. Electricity generated by the turbines is collected by an offshore substation prior to being transmitted to shore.

The development will generate domestic energy for more than 400,000 homes and businesses across the Commonwealth, while reducing carbon emissions by over 1.6 million tons per year. Vineyard Wind 1 will offer $3.7 billion in energy related cost savings over the life of the project.

Overall economic output in Massachusetts – $1.9 billion, with more than 3,700 individuals based in Massachusetts having worked on the project to date. More than 1,500 of those have been union jobs, with 71% of those being Southeastern Massachusetts residents (exceeding the project’s project labor agreement (PLA) goal of 51%.

It’s also important to note that Vineyard Wind 1 produced electricity seamlessly through this winter’s heavy snow and winds. High wind speeds that power offshore turbines often occur during periods of extreme cold, when demand for heating is at its peak. This makes projects like Revolution Wind and Vineyard Wind 1 an especially valuable energy source in the winter. As regional energy needs grow, offshore wind’s ability to deliver power during cold snaps will be critical, helping ease strain on infrastructure when resources are stretched to meet increased heating demand in homes and businesses.

Another positive sign – the Massachusetts House of Representatives recently passed an energy bill with language creating an offshore wind predevelopment program, which would help the state prepare and be ready for faster offshore wind development when federal policies adjust.

The cost and availability of energy is a front-of-mind issue for the thousands of employer- members of AIM. This association supports offshore wind as part of the “all-of-the-above” strategy that the commonwealth needs to moderate the cost of electricity and feed a growing need for power driven by artificial intelligence data centers and other elements of economic growth.

We must use all our assets – wind, solar, natural gas and nuclear – to feed our demand for power and heat.

Congratulations to Ørsted, Avangrid and their partners on plugging in a wave of new clean energy for New England. AIM also urges the federal government to move forward with carefully permitted wind-energy projects that will benefit both businesses and residents in Massachusetts.