Wind Farm Construction at Vineyard 1 Could Possibly Shift to 2026
Updated Verification: June 2026
Vineyard Wind 1: Delays Galore
The first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the USA, Vineyard Wind 1, now seems likely to miss its initial completion date of 2024. Despite the original plan, ongoing construction is set to continue well beyond this year, inching closer to 2026.
Despite their claims, parent company Iberdrola expects the project to be completed only by late 2025. As of June 2025, merely four of the planned 62 turbines had begun delivering power to the grid.
While Vineyard Wind has overcome legal challenges and political gusts, the sheer extent of the remaining work and the lease extension through mid-2026 suggest full operation may not occur until next year. The project's importance to Massachusetts' clean energy goals remains undiminished, but its timeline now appears murky at best.
A nostalgic trip back to August 2003 reveals that Avangrid, Inc celebrated the installation of the first GE Haliade-X Wind Turbine Generator for the Vineyard Wind 1 project [1]. Avangrid, a member of the Iberdrola Group and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), a global energy investing pioneer, collaborated on this milestone.
The colossal wind turbine, the biggest in the Western hemisphere, boasts a nameplate capacity of 13 Megawatts, capable of powering over 6,000 Massachusetts homes and businesses.
Meanwhile, with 62 wind turbines, the project aims to generate 806 Megawatts of power, enough to power over 400,000 Massachusetts residences and businesses.
Construction commenced in late 2022, and by June 2025, the project had reached steel-in-the-water status, built its first offshore substation, and concluded the New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal construction. The project also inked the first Project Labour Agreement in the United States for an offshore wind project, detailing the development of 500 union jobs through the project [2].
Current Standings of Vineyard Wind 1
The offshore wind farm located 15 miles south of Martha's Vineyard is midway through construction, but progress has been sluggish. The project faced several setbacks, including blade failures in the summer of 2024, resulting in the removal of blades from 22 turbines. As of late March, 23 towers had been installed, yet many lacked their blades. The project restarted in 2025 with only one turbine providing power initially. By May 2025, the governor's office reported only four turbines were operational [3].
Predicted Finish Line
The initial plan was to have Vineyard Wind 1 fully operational by mid-2024, but a new completion date remains elusive. The company has refrained from providing a new target, and numerous obstacles, such as legal issues and changes in national energy policies under the current administration, contribute to the uncertainty [1][2].
Opposition and Legal Woes
The project continues to face legal challenges from the fishing industry and environmental groups. In May, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected petitions from these groups to overturn lower court decisions favoring the project [2]. Furthermore, the project faces opposition from groups like ACK for Whales, which has petitioned to rescind permits [2].
Overall, Vineyard Wind 1 continues to battle significant troubles, with no definitive estimated completion date announced as of yet.
- Science and Construction: The ongoing construction of Vineyard Wind 1, despite delays, is significant in the field of science, showcasing advancements in project management and renewable energy technology.
- Infrastructure and Finance: The delays in the completion of Vineyard Wind 1 not only impact the industry's timeline but also affect the finance sector, as investments in infrastructure projects like this one rely on a predictable schedule.
- Environmental-Science Concerns: Despite the project's potential positive impact on clean energy goals, it continues to face opposition from environmental groups concerned about its impact on wildlife, particularly marine life.
- The intersection of Industry and Environment: Vineyard Wind 1, despite its challenges, represents a significant step forward in the integration of renewable energy sources into the US energy landscape, potentially paving the way for future projects that balance industry needs with environmental concerns.
