First offshore wind farm opens in the U.S

(13 Dec 2016) LEAD IN: The US's first offshore wind farm has opened off the coast of Rhode Island, ushering in a new era for the industry. Deepwater Wind has built five turbines to power around 17,000 homes, a project costing about $300 million. STORY-LINE: A perfectly calm day on the Rhode Island coast - though not a great day for creating renewable energy. These off-shore turbines make up the first US wind farm producing green energy. Deepwater Wind announced Monday (12 December 2016) that the wind farm had begun producing energy for the grid. The company describes the opening as a momentous occasion that unlocks the code of how to do offshore wind in the U.S. Matthew Morrissey is Vice President for Deepwater Wind. "The Block Island Wind Farm is the first in the Nation, offshore wind farm. 30 megawatts, 5 turbines, 6 megawatts each, General Electric, very very excited in this moment in the evolution of offshore wind history in the United States." Deepwater Wind installed the five turbines over 18 days in August, and has been testing the wind farm's components, software and the system in its entirety. "So a typical land based turbine is about 2 megawatts, these turbines are state of the art, ocean turbines, and they generate about 6 megawatts of power, per unit," adds Morrissey. The company had planned to open the wind farm, about a $300 million project, in November, but was still working with regulators at the end of the month to get final approval on the protocols for operating the wind farm. National Grid is buying all of the output. GE Energy Financial Services and Citi became investors in the Block Island project in October. "The wind farm itself will power 17,000 homes. About 1/10th of the power generated comes to the island of Block Island, Rhode Island. The rest of the power that is generated goes right the mainland interconnecting in Rhode Island," explains Morrissey. "Block Island Wind Farm is only the beginning of a much larger development plan with Deepwater Wind. We have won the rights to 256 square miles of area, 15-20 miles from the mainland, out of sight from anyone on shore, to develop projects that are not 30 megawatts, but 400 megawatts and larger." President-elect Donald Trump has expressed distaste for wind farms and has long been attempting to block a planned offshore site close to a golfing development he owns in Scotland, UK. His reason was that he feels the windmills would spoil the view. But Bill Penn, president of Block Island Residents Association says most locals are supportive of the U.S.'s first wind farm. "In general, I think they're (the residents) are very supportive. There are a few people that are still unhappy with the farms, especially those people who have houses in the south east part of the island that can see them very visibly. But once they were put up in August, people realized that they really are quite attractive, and it's going to mean a significant change in our electric supply. Right now everything is generated by diesel generators, which is air pollution, oil spills, and all that kind of associated thing. We will have all of our electricity generated from the wind farm." The offshore wind industry is far more advanced in Europe. Penn says the wind turbines may bring more tourism to the region. "Well I think what we're finding is that it's going to be a very interesting tourist attraction. People want to see what it looks like. They've heard about them in Europe, and they've seen them on land, but to see them out on the water is really spectacular." Deepwater Wind is also negotiating with a New York utility to build a 15-turbine wind farm off eastern Long Island. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/b955be67e07198330ecb2b7229d1c209 Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork