On May 11, 2021, the Department of Interior announced the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) issuance of a Record of Decision (ROD) for Vineyard Wind representing a significant milestone for the first large-scale commercial wind project offshore the United States. BOEM’s action allows Vineyard Wind to move forward with construction and comes two months after the release of its final environmental impact statement for the Vineyard Wind project (which was preceded by years of extensive analyses). The ROD approves the installation and operation of up to 84 offshore wind turbines off the coast of Massachusetts.

Importantly, this announcement has a broader reach than just the Vineyard Wind project, as it exemplifies the potential economic boon that offshore wind offers the United States, illustrates the regulatory framework that applies to offshore wind for investors and other stakeholders, and signals another step towards the United States becoming a competitor in the global offshore wind industry.