America’s Green Energy Disaster is Becoming Much Worse

Renewable energy efforts in the northeastern U.S. are facing significant hurdles. Inflation and disruptions in the supply chain are forcing developers to delay or even scrap plans for offshore wind farms. 

Shell is pulling back from its offshore wind energy investments, redirecting focus towards its foundational oil and gas business. 

Siemens Gamesa, a heavyweight in the wind turbine industry, is grappling with severe economic pressures. This strain has led to a significant decision to reduce its global workforce by 15%.

The goals for the global floating offshore wind market are proving too ambitious, with recent surveys like Westwood’s predicting under 3 gigawatts of new capacity by 2030. 

Westwood’s analysis highlights significant barriers to growth in the offshore wind sector, including the absence of standardized floating technology, constrained manufacturing capabilities, and inadequate port infrastructure. 

With more households than ever before relying on electric energy and with an increasing number of household electrical appliances becoming a staple in every household, the electric grid is struggling to cope with the demand.

Other ways to make America greener include using electric vehicles (EVs) instead of petrol and diesel.

The wind energy sector, struggling to gain momentum, is calling for more robust government support. 

As the wind business is keen to make leaps and bounds in the energy industry, it asks governments for help with its plans.

The challenges in offshore wind development could pose political risks for President Biden, particularly as his reelection approaches. 

Biden’s goal of achieving 30 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 is overreaching, as experts have predicted much less than this to be viable by the same time.

With the US Presidential Election coming up in November 2024, the race is on between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in a bid for either of them to get a second term in the White House.

Experts say the type of energy used should be based on facts and not hopes or dreams. One survey found natural gas to be the most reliable form of energy, so some say efforts should be more focused on this than on other energy forms.

While they can be considered to produce greener energy, wider issues need to be addressed and considered to fully determine just how green something can be.

Efforts to remove wind farms have already been ongoing during Biden’s term as President. One wind farm in Osage County, Oklahoma, has recently received a court order to dismantle its wind turbines.

Osage County isn’t the only one to ban wind energy. Around 15% of counties across the US have banned wind energy for the time being, making Biden’s green energy goals increasingly difficult to achieve.

Wind energy didn’t used to be so strongly opposed, as most of this opposition has only started within the last year.

Economic pressures have negatively affected several major offshore wind initiatives, with developers like Orsted and Shell withdrawing from significant projects. 

There are some questions about whether wind and solar power are the cheapest forms of electricity, after Biden’s claims when trying to persuade the rest of the US to get on board with green energy.

Despite numerous setbacks, some projects are making headway. Vineyard Wind 1 and South Fork Wind are now operational, providing renewable energy to Massachusetts and New York, respectively. 

The active projects currently contribute less than 1% of the Biden administration’s 30 GW target. 

The economic foundation of large-scale offshore wind projects is facing growing skepticism. As these initiatives increasingly lean on government subsidies and grapple with climbing utility costs, concerns are mounting. 

Europe has spent the last 30 years investing in renewable energy sources of all kinds, which includes wind turbines. However, ongoing war in Europe, particularly the Ukraine and Russia war, has put a stop to all of this.

As we approach 2030, the journey for the U.S. offshore wind industry looks increasingly daunting.