The United States currently operates just 42 megawatts of offshore wind capacity. Its development pipeline now exceeds 50 gigawatts, creating a vast gap between today's reality and tomorrow's ambition. This analysis examines the statistics defining the industry's rapid scale-up and its persistent constraints.
Key Takeaways
- As of 2023, US operational offshore wind capacity is 42 MW from Block Island and CVOW demo
- US offshore wind industry created 2,670 jobs in 2022, up 30% from 2021
- Offshore wind displaces 78 million metric tons CO2 annually at 30 GW scale
- Inflation Reduction Act provides uncapped PTC at $27/MWh +15% domestic content bonus for OSW
- As of October 2023: June 2026, the US has approved 13 offshore wind projects totaling 13.9 GW of capacity, with Vineyard Wind 1 (806 MW) being the first to commence operations in late 2024
- 25 turbine orders placed totaling 5 GW by US developers 2023
Offshore wind is accelerating offshore with rapid growth in capacity, making it a key clean energy driver.
Related reading
01 · Category
Capacity and Generation26 stats
01
As of 2023, US operational offshore wind capacity is 42 MW from Block Island and CVOW demo
02
Vineyard Wind 1 expected to generate 2.4 TWh annually, enough for 400,000 homes
03
South Fork Wind 12 Siemens Gamesa 12 MW turbines produce 130 GWh/year for 70,000 homes
04
CVOW Commercial (2.6 GW) to generate over 9 million MWh annually
05
Revolution Wind 90 turbines to produce 2.4 TWh/year, powering 700,000 homes
06
Empire Wind 1 810 MW to generate 2.7 TWh/year
07
Park City Wind 804 MW expected output 2.5 TWh annually
08
Sunrise Wind 924 MW projected 3 TWh/year
09
Total US offshore wind potential estimated at 2,000 GW by NREL
10
East Coast technical potential 420 GW within 50 nautical miles
11
California floating wind potential 15 GW by 2030
12
Gulf of Mexico fixed-bottom potential 50 GW
13
US target 30 GW offshore wind by 2030 per Biden-Harris plan
14
By 2030, expected 5-8 GW operational, scaling to 40 GW by 2040
15
Average capacity factor for US offshore wind projected at 45-50%
16
Block Island Wind Farm capacity factor averaged 40% since 2016
17
Haliade-X 13-14 MW turbine used in CVOW has 63-67% capacity factor in tests
18
Total queued capacity 58 GW as per DOE 2023 report
19
Floating offshore wind to contribute 10 GW by 2035 in West Coast visions
20
NY Bight projects total 5.6 GW potential
21
MA/RI/ CT projects pipeline 7 GW
22
NJ projects over 8 GW in development
23
Total US wind lease areas support 38 GW nameplate capacity
24
Expected annual generation from 30 GW target: 110 TWh, equivalent to 10% of US electricity
25
Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD turbine for US projects rated at 14 MW with 240m rotor
26
Offshore wind expected to save 500 million metric tons CO2 by 2035
Interpretation
Capacity and Generation Interpretation
Currently, the US offshore wind industry is like a fledgling with a 42 MW whisper off Block Island, but it's gearing up for a 30 GW roar by 2030 that could power millions of homes and shave half a billion metric tons off our carbon footprint.
02 · Category
Economic and Job Impacts24 stats
01
US offshore wind industry created 2,670 jobs in 2022, up 30% from 2021
02
Total capital investment announced $70 billion for US offshore wind projects as of 2023
03
Vineyard Wind project investment $4 billion, creating 3,600 jobs peak construction
04
South Fork Wind $500 million investment, 400 construction jobs
05
Revolution Wind $3 billion, expected 2,000 construction jobs and 140 permanent
06
Empire Wind $3 billion investment by Equinor, 1,000+ jobs
07
CVOW $4 billion for Phase 1 2.6 GW, 900 jobs
08
Offshore wind to generate $86 billion economic value by 2030 per GWEC
09
110,000 jobs projected by 2030 from 30 GW target
10
Lease auctions generated $4.9 billion federal revenue since 2014
11
NY offshore wind contracts awarded $19 billion for 4.5 GW
12
MA solicitations awarded 2.4 GW for $11 billion
13
NJ awarded 7.5 GW for $22 billion in contracts
14
MD/DE contracts 2.5 GW $5 billion
15
Supply chain spend $12 billion announced by 2023
16
17 manufacturing facilities announced for US OSW components
17
Average wage in OSW sector $80,000/year, 20% above national average
18
$8.5 billion private investment mobilized by DOE loans for OSW ports
19
1,200 port upgrade projects nationwide for OSW, $5 billion investment
20
Vineyard Wind economic impact $2.2 billion GDP contribution over lifetime
21
Total 5,000 construction jobs at peak for East Coast projects in 2024
22
OSW supports 20,000 jobs in planning and development phase 2023
23
$1 billion in steel orders for monopiles from US mills for OSW
24
Tax revenue from OSW projects projected $2 billion annually by 2030
Interpretation
Economic and Job Impacts Interpretation
While our national discourse often gets tangled in ideological knots, the hard economic math of offshore wind—with tens of billions in investments already creating thousands of high-wage jobs and generating serious revenue—suggests the industry is busy building a new industrial backbone, not just spinning turbines.
03 · Category
Environmental and Sustainability22 stats
01
Offshore wind displaces 78 million metric tons CO2 annually at 30 GW scale
02
Vineyard Wind to avoid 1.9 million tons CO2/year vs fossil fuels
03
OSW reduces NOx emissions by 50,000 tons/year at 20 GW deployment
04
Floating wind minimizes seabed disturbance compared to fixed-bottom
05
Whale strike risk near zero with operational mitigation protocols
06
OSW projects require <1% of OCS area, preserving 99% for fisheries
07
CVOW bird studies show no significant impact on avian populations
08
OSW saves 500,000 tons SO2 emissions yearly at 30 GW
09
Turbine foundations host artificial reefs boosting fish biomass 2-3x
10
Noise reduction tech limits impact on marine mammals to <120 dB
11
OSW water use 90% less than onshore wind per MWh
12
Land use zero for OSW vs 100 acres/MW onshore
13
Biodiversity enhancement via scour protection in 70% of projects
14
PM2.5 reductions equivalent to 10 million cars removed from roads at 30 GW
15
Cumulative impact assessments cover 100+ species per project EIS
16
Bubble curtains used in 90% pile driving reduce noise by 10-20 dB
17
OSW recycling rate target 95% for blades and foundations by 2030
18
Minimal visual impact beyond 15 miles, <5% horizon obstruction
19
Supports US Paris Agreement goals by 10% renewable increase
20
Reduces ocean acidification via lower fossil fuel use
21
Pre/post-construction monitoring for 20 years standard
22
OSW curtailment <1% vs 5% onshore due to wind consistency
Interpretation
Environmental and Sustainability Interpretation
The evidence is overwhelmingly clear: offshore wind power is a meticulously engineered environmental win, delivering massive clean energy and climate benefits while actively minimizing, mitigating, and even enhancing the marine world it respectfully inhabits.
More related reading
04 · Category
Policy and Investment21 stats
01
Inflation Reduction Act provides uncapped PTC at $27/MWh +15% domestic content bonus for OSW
02
IRA Section 45X manufacturing tax credit up to $48/kW for monopiles since 2024
03
BOEM finalized Wind Energy Area designations for 10 states by 2023
04
Biden goal 30 GW OSW by 2030 announced 2021
05
$3 billion DOE funding for OSW via BIL/IRA in 2023
06
11 GW OSW contracts awarded in NY solicitations through 2024
07
MA Clean Peak Standard requires 2.4 GW OSW by 2027
08
NJ targets 11 GW OSW by 2040 via OCEAN Act
09
$4.37 billion NY Bight auction 2021, highest ever for renewables
10
Gulf of America WAO auction 2024 raised $21 million for 3 areas
11
8(a) program mandates small business participation in OSW contracts
12
Jones Act compliance required for all OSW installation vessels
13
IRA transferability allows tax credit monetization for developers
14
DOE Floating OSW Incubator selected 4 projects 2023 for $3.5M
15
CA AB525 mandates 5 GW floating OSW procurement by 2030
16
OR HB3560 sets 1.5 GW OSW target by 2030
17
MD Climate Act requires 8.5 GW OSW by 2030
18
VA Clean Economy Act mandates 3 GW OSW by 2026
19
Federal funding $575M for 7 port projects 2024
20
BOEM COP approval timeline reduced to 1 year average 2023
21
US Coast Guard OSW safety framework finalized 2023
Interpretation
Policy and Investment Interpretation
Congress and the states are throwing money, mandates, and regulatory tailwinds at offshore wind with such ferocity that the industry’s biggest challenge might soon be dodging the falling stacks of cash and paperwork to actually build the turbines.
05 · Category
Project Development30 stats
01
As of October 2023: June 2026, the US has approved 13 offshore wind projects totaling 13.9 GW of capacity, with Vineyard Wind 1 (806 MW) being the first to commence operations in late 2024
02
BOEM has issued 7 commercial leases off the Atlantic coast covering approximately 2 million acres, capable of supporting up to 25 GW of offshore wind energy
03
South Fork Wind project, a 132 MW facility off New York, achieved full operations in 2024, delivering power to Long Island and NYC
04
Revolution Wind, a 704 MW project off Rhode Island and Connecticut, received final approval in May 2024 from BOEM
05
Empire Wind 1 (810 MW) off New York received Construction and Operations Plan approval in 2023
06
Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) Phase 1, 12 MW demonstration project, fully operational since 2020 with 5 GE Haliade-X turbines
07
Vineyard Wind plans to install 65 Siemens Gamesa 15 MW turbines for its 806 MW capacity
08
Ocean Wind 1 (1,100 MW) off New Jersey had its COP approved but was cancelled in 2023 due to supply chain issues
09
Park City Wind off Massachusetts, 804 MW, under construction with first power expected 2026
10
Sunrise Wind (924 MW) off New York, lease held by Ørsted, construction to start 2025
11
Atlantic Shores Project 1 (1,100 MW) off NJ, joint venture Equinor and BP
12
US Gulf of Mexico has 6 active lease areas totaling nearly 700,000 acres for offshore wind
13
California has 4 active lease areas OCS-A 0514 to 0517 covering 373,000 acres
14
Oregon Wind Energy Area auctioned in 2021 for $2 million, held by Microsoft and Intermountain Wind & Solar
15
Morro Bay Call Area off California identified 400,000 acres for potential wind development
16
Total US offshore wind queue as of 2023 stands at 42 GW across 25+ projects
17
First floating offshore wind lease auction in California Pacific OCS in 2024 for up to 5 GW
18
Hawaii floating wind lease process initiated with 2 areas up to 2.5 GW total
19
New York Bight auction in 2021 raised $4.37 billion from 4 lessees for 800,000 acres
20
Gulf of Maine floating wind areas designated 2023 covering 1 million acres
21
Maryland Offshore Renewal Energies (MORE) 1,100 MW project in development
22
Virginia Beach Offshore Wind project 2,640 MW proposed by US Wind
23
Total leased capacity in US East Coast exceeds 25 GW as of 2024
24
Block Island Wind Farm (30 MW) was the first US commercial offshore wind project, operational since 2016
25
Skipjack Wind (120 MW) off Maryland, first power 2026
26
MarWin and Mar Breeze off Maryland, 1,707 MW total
27
US Wind's Momentum Wind 252 MW off Maryland
28
Total 20 lease areas auctioned since 2014, generating $4.9 billion in revenue
29
Central Atlantic auction planned for 2024 with 4 areas up to 4 GW
30
Kitty Hawk Wind off NC/VA, 1,386 MW, in development
Interpretation
Project Development Interpretation
America's offshore wind industry is building out from a humble five-turbine start like a determined underdog finally hitting its stride, now poised to harness enough ocean breezes to power millions of homes while navigating the choppy waters of supply chains and economics.
06 · Category
Supply Chain and Workforce19 stats
01
25 turbine orders placed totaling 5 GW by US developers 2023
02
12 Jones Act compliant vessels under construction for OSW by 2027
03
Siemens Gamesa Mystic factory CT producing blades for 15 MW turbines, 200 jobs
04
GE Vernova Portsmouth facility blades for Haliade-X, 823 jobs
05
Vestas Colorado plant for turbine components, 1,000+ workers
06
Ørsted/Armor US cable factory NY, $100M investment, 250 jobs
07
Equinor Steelwind Towers LA facility, 300 jobs
08
EEW SPC Paulsboro NJ monopile plant, 500 construction jobs
09
Trinity McHenry MS tower sections for OSW
10
LM Wind Power Little Rock AR blades, 350 jobs
11
54 domestic suppliers in ACP database 2024, up from 30 in 2022
12
1,100 vessels needed for OSW installation by 2030
13
Workforce training programs funded $50M DOE for 20,000 workers
14
Community Offshore Wind Collaborative trained 500 workers 2023
15
15 GW turbine supply secured for US projects through 2030
16
Domestic content 20% average for OSW projects 2024, targeting 55% by 2026
17
Cable manufacturing capacity 10 GW announced US
18
Foundations contracts for 3 GW monopiles placed 2023
19
HVDC technology development for OSW with $60M ARPA-E funding
Interpretation
Supply Chain and Workforce Interpretation
While America’s offshore wind dreams were once built on European blueprints and hope, today they’re being forged in Connecticut steel, Louisiana towers, New York cables, and the hands of thousands of newly trained workers—proving a clean energy future is not just imported, but hired, welded, and assembled right here.
Reference
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Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Us Offshore Wind Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-offshore-wind-industry-statistics
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Priyanka Sharma. "Us Offshore Wind Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/us-offshore-wind-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Us Offshore Wind Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/us-offshore-wind-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
49 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level