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 (3) 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.In June, 2025 a multi-state poll was held by Republican polling firm Tarrance Group, that showed a transition of increasing support from the public relating to offshore winds. Nearly 70% of Americans support new offshore wind project development in their own states.

• Republican voters that support offshore wind development increases from 46% to 51% since January.

• Americans continue to back offshore wind as energy demands from AI industry increases. 

• Supporters cite job creation, energy independence, and pollution reductions are reasons for supporting OSW.

• Over 70% raised concerns relating to canceling or delaying offshore wind projects. These concerns include job losses and less economic opportunities from the project developments.

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

References​​​

1. Block Island Wind Farm. Tethys. (2025b, May). https://tethys.pnnl.gov/wind-project-sites/block-island-windfarm#:~:text=The%20Block%20Island%20Wind%20Farm,30%20MW%20of%20installed%20compacity. 

2. New Polling Data: Bipartisan majority in politically diverse states supports U.S. Offshore Wind Energy. Turn Forward. (2025, February 25). https://turnforward.org/new-polling-data-bipartisan-majority

3. Jeanfreau, L. (2024, July 18). Poll confirms New Englanders understand the importance and benefits of offshore wind energy . Oceantic Network. https://oceantic.org/poll-confirms-new-englanders-understand-the-importance-and-benefits-of-offshore-wind-energy/#:~:text=72%25%20believe%20offshore%20wind%20will,will%20positively%20impact%20energy%20prices.

4. Schatz Energy Research Center. (2025a, March 13). West Coast Perspectives on Ocean Renewable Energy. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwCJaD-oWqk