A major offshore wind project near Massachusetts will be completed this year, and another is in the works, the executive chair of the Spanish power giant Iberdrola told investors last week.
Ignacio Galán’s comment mark a vote of confidence in U.S. offshore wind at a time when the industry has been rocked by President Donald Trump’s decision to freeze new wind permits and review existing ones. His remarks follow an accident at Iberdrola’s flagship project, Vineyard Wind, last summer when a turbine blade detached and crashed into the ocean, and as the company is negotiating a deal to sell power to Massachusetts from a second project called New England Wind 1.
Speaking to investors last week, Galán expressed confidence that Iberdrola’s renewable energy investments would continue under Trump. The company operates a collection of utilities in New York and New England and is a major wind and solar developer.
Galán said he is “satisfied” with Vineyard Wind’s progress after visiting Boston in February. All of its foundations and so-called transition pieces — which connect the foundations and towers — have been installed. The 62-turbine project is expected to generate enough electricity to power 400,000 homes.
