SouthCoast 11th offshore wind energy project approved by the Biden-Harris Administration

In short: The Biden-Harris Administration approved the Southeast Wind Project in December 2024 marking the country's eleventh offshore Wind power initiative. By generating 2.5 GW, the project will provide clean electricity to more than 5,700 houses in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, advance sustainability, and create economic opportunities. 

Sustainable energy is used in environmental conservancy. A wastewater treatment plant powered by wind turbines and solar panels near Atlantic City in New Jersey, USA. Photo: Universal, iStock

On 20 December 2024, the Biden-Harris administration approved the SouthCoast Wind Project, marking the nation’s 11th commercial-scale offshore wind energy project under President Biden's leadership. Through this approval, the Department of the Interior and its Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) have sanctioned over 19 gigawatts (GW) of clean energy from offshore wind—enough to supply clean power to more than 6 million US homes.

Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. cited, “When we began this administration, there were zero approved commercial-scale offshore wind projects in federal waters. I am proud to celebrate our 11th approval today. "Through President Biden’s investing in America agenda, we are tackling the climate crisis, creating jobs, and building an enduring economy that supports all communities," he added.

BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein highlighted the collaborative process behind this progress, and commented, "Our environmental reviews integrate leading scientific research with key insights from tribal nations, states, and other stakeholders to ensure that the Southcoast Wind Project will bring meaningful economic opportunities during both construction and operation."

The SouthCoast Wind Project

The SouthCoast Wind Project, formerly, known as Mayflower Wind will provide 2.4 GW of offshore wind energy to supply more than 840,000 homes in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. This wind project features 141 Haliade X- 12 MW wind turbines, five offshore substations, and eight offshore export cables, with landfall sites at Brayton Point or Falmouth, Massachusetts. It is located on nearly 127,388 acres, about 26 nautical miles south of Martha’s Vineyard and 20 nautical miles south of Nantucket. The approved plan reduces potential impacts on wildlife habitats near Nantucket Shoals by removing up to six wind turbine positions from the original proposal. It is supposed to be completed by 2030.

The process of SouthCoast review

In March 2021, the input related input was collected from the tribal countries, local communities, and other stakeholders during a public meeting. The steps taken to reduce environmental impacts were to minimize the project implementation. In November 2024, the BOEM will publish the final environmental impact statement (EISfor this project analyzing the potential environmental effects and exploring alternative solutions. In the form, the Southcast will be published in the Federal Register soon for the "joint record of the decision" for the Southcast Wind Project.