This article is a part of 12-piece series for The Times’ 2025 “Year in Review.” Click here for the print version.
One of the biggest stories for the Island this year — and many years to come — is offshore wind. From the very beginning of this year, it has felt like the industry itself is twisting in the wind. On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump issued an executive memorandum that directed federal agencies to suspend all new leases for wind projects before a large assessment of the approval process. That same day, the then–acting secretary of the interior issued a written order that suspended for 60 days (a period that’s long passed) the authority for federal agencies to issue wind approvals. An eddy of stop-work orders and lawsuits from the federal administration, stemming from Trump’s initial memorandum, have marred the industry that promises alternative energy in an age of increasing electricity demand.
But a few weeks ago, a federal judge overturned that action by the acting secretary, and ruled in favor of a lawsuit by Massachusetts and several other states that challenged the current administration. The ruling doesn’t guarantee the authorization of new projects but says the agencies have to go through the approval process, affirming the rights of states and developers and potentially creating a path for new wind projects to move forward.
Though the nine wind farms currently planned for off the coast of the Vineyard — all of which are in different stages, from finished to under construction to not fully permitted, and some even wrapped up in legal turmoil from the federal government — are in federal waters, impacts on the viewshed, fisheries, and electricity bills are points of contention for some Islanders.
The Island’s only community benefits agreement with any offshore wind farm was made public this summer, a decade after it was signed. The publication of the agreement, which exchanges on-Island benefits for support of the project, was called into question for having a conflict of interest as well as not affording the Island many protections. And so on the Island, there’s also been some activity in the offshore wind realm, albeit not as much as on Nantucket, where the town settled with manufacturer GE Vernova and received a $10.5 million payout after a blade broke at the Vineyard Wind I offshore wind farm, and also created a new agreement with the developers of that wind farm in demand of better accountability and communication. In light of Nantucket’s firm hand and publication of the agreement, town officials on the Vineyard are now contemplating whether or not they want their own agreements, which could include a framework for more accountability from developers of the wind farm. They have plans to sit down with Vineyard Wind officials in the new year, but another curveball was thrown Dec. 22 when federal officials announced a pause of all offshore wind leases, effective immediately.
Other headlines:
Island’s benefits agreement with Vineyard Wind made public
Court decision blows in favor of offshore wind
The Island’s six towns may pursue new agreements with Vineyard Wind
When will our rates go down?
Your rates will go down when you put up a wind turbine on your own property and install solar panels. If you plan properly for your electricity usage, you can disconnect from the grid.
Vineyard Wind is selling electricity to Eversource at 9 cents per KwH. What are you paying for the electricity you purchase?