The nation’s first offshore wind farm is under construction as we speak. The five-turbine wind farm located off Block Island, Rhode Island is a step in the right direction when it comes to energy efficiency in the United States.

DeepWater Wind is responsible for the project, which is expected to power 17,000 homes as early as summer 2016.

"It's great to witness a pioneering moment in U.S. history," U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell said Monday. "We are learning from this in what we do elsewhere. I think it will help the country understand the potential that exists here.”


This project has barely started and DeepWater Wind is already planning more renewable energy projects for the future. The company wants to build a farm of at least 200 turbines between Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard.

"We want to build more and larger offshore wind projects, up and down the East Coast," DeepWater Wind CEO Jeffrey Grybowski said

The offshore wind industry is far more advanced in Europe, with U.S. industry experts blaming regulatory hurdles on our nation's slow uptake.

The renewable energy industry is constantly fighting to keep tax credits and incentives, while the oil and gas companies are well-established enough to not worry about needing support.

While there have been setbacks, Jewell said the federal government is making progress when it comes to the offshore wind movement. So far nine leases have been sold for similar projects in federal waters.

On the projects official website they reveal that not only will the Block Island Wind Farm supply most of Block Island’s power, but it will also reduce air pollution across southern New England for years to come.

Additional reporting by Victoria Meneses

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