How popular is offshore winds?

The first national (1) offshore wind farm began operations in December 2016, off the coast of Rhode Island. Within a decade from the first project, the industry exponentially continues to be pushed in technology, research, and scale. With increases in funding and focus in the space comes questions regarding how the public eye views offshore winds.

A poll based out of Washington D.C. found that majorities of both political parties favored (2) offshore wind development both at a state and national level. Voters support incorporating more renewable energy into the energy grid and acknowledge that offshore wind contributes to making the U.S. more energy independent. Support is also shown for the increases in high paying jobs associated with the industry that will contribute to benefitting local community economies. Additionally, the Barr Foundation’s Climate Program held their own poll in July 2024, where they found positive association to offshore winds in Massachusetts (77%), Connecticut (75%), and Rhode Island (67%) with respective popularity percentages. They associating their project support with climate change impacts and benefitting future energy prices.

Watch this video from Oregon State University on influences and perspectives from the west coast on offshore winds (4).