NEW LONDON, Conn. — The first utility-scale wind farm in the United States is finally taking shape and it's starting in New London.
“Today’s a historic day,” said Eversource CEO & President Joe Nolan.
Tuesday, workers finished loading a barge at New London State Pier with the first of 12 wind turbines for the South Fork Wind Project. The barge is expected to set sail Tuesday night.
“This is expected to be the first, large-scale wind turbine farm in the federal waters of the Americas,” explained port director Ulysses Hammond. “So this is a great, great day for Connecticut, a great day for our nation.”
The pre-assembled tower sections, a nacelle and three blades were loaded onto the transport barge. Each of the blades is longer than a football field.
Once they reach their resting place out in the water, each turbine will take 60 hours to put together. When built, they’ll be more than 800 feet tall.
Eversource expects more than half of the turbines to be constructed by the end of the year when they can start generating power for Long Island.
“It's going to displace two diesel generators that they've been using out there for peak load,” Nolan said. “They're going to be bringing in clean power.”
The South Fork Wind Project is just the beginning. Connecticut has several other offshore wind projects in the works, officials Tuesday saying this is an important investment for the state and the nation.
“We're moving forward so nothing is going to stop here,” added Nolan.
Eversource also announced Tuesday the next step in another endeavor, “Revolution Wind,” which would create 65 turbines. That’s more than five times the size of the South Fork Wind Project.
“We've just committed to FID today, which is a financial commitment meeting,” Nolan said. “That financial decision was made.”
Nolan said “Revolution Wind” is on the company’s agenda for 2024, with their sights set on an additional project in 2025.
“We are now birthing if you will, a new industry right now in this country, and it's happening right here in New London, Connecticut,” said Hammond.
Emma Wulfhorst is a political reporter for FOX61 News. She can be reached at ewulfhorst@fox61.com. Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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