New England is the epicenter of U.S. offshore wind energy, taking the lead in shaping a new American energy industry.
From operating the nation’s first offshore wind farm, to upgrading ports, vessels and crucial infrastructure, Ørsted is helping create a lasting offshore wind legacy for New England.
As the global leader in offshore wind energy and longtime partner in New England, Ørsted is helping the region expand domestic energy production and meet its clean energy targets. Our latest offshore wind project, Starboard Wind, is poised to bring reliable, affordable energy to New England residents. It will create jobs, support local businesses and workforce training, and expand New England’s offshore wind supply chain, while conserving marine and coastal ecosystems.
Securing reliable, affordable energy
A typical feature of fossil fuels is their high price variability. This leaves consumers vulnerable to unstable prices, with the risk of especially high rates during the winter. This is particularly true in New England, where ratepayers pay among the highest electricity prices in the nation.
With offshore wind, New England can secure affordable clean energy with transparent and predictable pricing for at least 20 years. In addition, Starboard Wind will be able to leverage the regional infrastructure that has already been utilized for South Fork Wind and Revolution Wind.
Starboard Wind will power hundreds of thousands of New England homes with clean, reliable energy.
For New England, this makes offshore wind a guardrail against volatile energy prices and reliability concerns. Every dollar spent today to develop offshore wind is a long-term investment in stable prices for reliable energy.
Creating jobs and boosting economic growth
People are the heart of America’s offshore wind industry: union workers, skilled tradespeople, engineers, scientists, and community members. Every offshore wind farm represents a chance to create jobs, train workers, and build long-term partnerships with local businesses.
Ørsted’s U.S. offshore wind energy projects have already generated more than 1,400 direct union jobs, and Starboard Wind would add to these opportunities, opening new career pathways and supporting additional workforce development programs.
Rhode Island and Connecticut are growing hubs for American offshore wind, benefiting from local job creation and economic development.
Offshore wind also plays a critical role in improving clean energy infrastructure and supporting local industries, from shipping, to manufacturing, to construction. Ørsted and its partners have invested $100 million in Connecticut’s New London State Pier and additional funds in Rhode Island ports in Providence and Quonset Point, expanding New England’s offshore wind supply chain. From family-owned businesses to major companies, we’re bringing the economic benefits of clean energy to Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Conserving and restoring marine ecosystems
Ørsted builds clean energy projects the right way, protecting marine and coastal ecosystems and coexisting with marine wildlife. To do this, we partner with research institutions, fund scientific studies, and work closely with local environmental groups.
We’ve funded research assessing the impact of offshore wind on natural ecosystems, working with UConn Avery Point, the University of Rhode Island, Mystic Aquarium, and Project Oceanology, among others. We support mariners and the fishing industry, partnering with Sea Services North America and piloting programs like ghost gear removal to protect wildlife. Working with our partners, we’re bringing our expertise in marine conservation to the New England coast.
As the world’s most sustainable energy developer, we believe that renewable energy projects are key to a healthier environment – provided they’re built with nature in mind. That’s why our ambition is a net-positive biodiversity impact from all renewable projects commissioned from 2030 onward, making enhancing biodiversity a core aspect of Ørsted’s sustainability program and business.
Delivering as a long-term, local partner
Ørsted is a longstanding partner in offshore wind and clean energy for New England. We have a proven track record of delivering in the Northeast, enabling states to meet their clean energy targets while investing in local economies
Components for South Fork Wind being marshalled at New London State Pier in Connecticut.
