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Unexploded munitions found at first large US offshore wind farm sites

Vineyard Wind and Revolution Wind are set to be some of the first commercial offshore wind farms in the US. However, seven unexploded munitions have just been discovered at the sites, which the developers will have to work around

By Matt Whittaker

19 July 2022

The GE-Alstom Block Island Wind Farm stands in the water off Block Island, Rhode Island, U.S., on Wednesday, Sept, 14, 2016. The installation of five 6-megawatt offshore-wind turbines at the Block Island project gives turbine supplier GE-Alstom first-mover advantage in the U.S. over its rivals Siemens and MHI-Vestas. Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The US currently only has small offshore windfarms, like this one near Rhode Island

Bloomberg Copyright: Bloomberg via Getty Images

Wind farm developers have found unexploded munitions at two sites set to be some of the first commercial offshore wind farms in the US. After decades of military dumping, weapons on the seabed aren’t uncommon, but the developers will have to work around them.

Despite being a leader in onshore wind farms, the US lags behind Europe and Asia in tapping windy, coastal areas for renewable energy. President Joe Biden’s administration is hoping to change that, with a…

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