The first commercial-scale offshore wind installation in the United States is powering roughly 70,000 homes in Long Island, New York.
The South Fork Wind Farm off the coast of Montauk, New York is the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm and a bright spot in a struggling industry that “offers tangible evidence that wind projects can work,” writes Pippa Stevens for CNBC News.
The project produces enough power for 70,000 homes annually, which it sells to the Long Island Power Authority. “Each turbine is connected to an offshore substation – the first of its kind built in the U.S. – which is connected to the local power grid in East Hampton, New York, via a 65-mile subsea and underground cable.”
The growth of the offshore wind industry has come in fits and starts, with interest rates and an uncertain, specialized supply chain driving up project costs and forcing companies to cancel some projects altogether. Because operators sign long-term contracts with power purchasers long in advance of construction, ballooning costs can make some projects financially unfeasible.
“The U.S. does have 58 gigawatts of capacity under development, according to American Clean Power, but some of those projects won’t come online for years, and there is no guarantee all of them will be built.” However, industry experts are optimistic that the sector is in a period of readjustment and will bounce back as components and skilled labor become more available.
Offshore Wind Zone Proposed for the East Coast
A "priority offshore wind zone" between Long Island and New Jersey could accelerate permits and help the industry gain a foothold in the United States.
US Offshore Wind Industry Gains Momentum
Federal support for offshore wind projects is helping the industry grow, with nine projects approved so far this year.
West Coast Offshore Wind Takes a Step Forward
The federal government announced a lease sale for locations along the California coast approved for offshore wind energy production.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
SoCal Leaders Debate Moving Coastal Rail Line
Train tracks running along the Pacific Ocean are in danger from sea level rise, but residents are divided on how to fix the problem.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research