Deepwater Wind has received approval from the Rhode Island Supreme Court allowing the company to proceed with the finalization of the power purchase agreement for the Block Island wind farm, to be the first US offshore wind project. The company has signed the PPA with National Grid.

Deepwater Wind is developing two offshore projects in the Rhode Island area. Block Island will have five turbines installed, totalling in 30 MW of capacity, and will serve as a demonstration project. The units will be installed about 3 miles off the coast of Block Island. The wind farm is expected to produce about 100 GWh of electrical energy annually, and provide for abotu 90% of the nearby island's power needs. For this purpose, the Block Island Transmission System is also being developed. Additionally, the wind farm will still generate enough electricity to be able to export it to the mainland power grid, through a new subsea transmission line. Block Island wind farm is expected to enter commercial operation in 2013 or 2014. The whole project, including the power transmission line, is to require about USD 250 in investments.

[source: Deepwater Wind]