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Vineyard Wind Farm Project Can Resume Construction, Federal Judge Rules

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Vineyard Wind Farm Project Can Resume Construction, Federal Judge Rules

Updated January 27, 2026 – A U.S. federal judge has ruled that the nearly complete Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind farm off the coast of Massachusetts may resume construction and full activities, temporarily blocking a December stop-work order from the Trump administration that had halted progress on the project and four other East Coast offshore wind developments. Judge Brian E. Murphy stayed the suspension on the grounds that the government did not provide sufficient explanation for halting construction, even while existing turbines continue to generate power, allowing Vineyard Wind which is already about 95% complete and partially operational to restart work as litigation over the broader policy pause continues.

The resumption of Vineyard offshore wind development comes a fortnight after Revolution wind farm off the coast of Rhode Island also got federal approval to continue construction. Also among the five offshore wind projects paused by President Trump’s administration last year is Dominion Energy’s Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project. CVOW also resumed construction in January 2026 following a similar legal route as Vineyard. The project is now over 70% complete after installing its first turbine in the same month following resumption of construction activities.

Vineyard Wind Farm Project Can Resume Construction, Federal Judge Rules

Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Project Permitted Continued Passage through New Bedford Hurricane Barrier

Reported 22nd December 2025 – Vinyard Wind Farm has been permitted to continue transporting turbine parts via the hurricane barrier at New Bedford. The projects earlier permit to do so was to expire at the end of the year which if not renewed would have hampered the projects progress significantly.

The news of the renewal of the permit comes as a relief given the Trumps administrations war on offshore wind projects that has has had several casualties including the Empire Wind project that was halted for a number of months. The approval to Vineyard was issued by  U.S. the Army Corps of Engineers. The relief was to be however, short-lived, because the Trump Administration has since paused development on the project along with 4 other offshore wind farms in the Atlantic.

Vineyard Wind 1 Offshore Project Permitted Continued Passage through New Bedford Hurricane Barrier

Vineyard Offshore Wind Farm Delivers Electricity to Massachusetts Grid

July 25, 2025- Vineyard Wind’s construction continues to gain momentum this summer. The project is now delivering electricity from 17 turbines to the Massachusetts grid – a notable increase from just four turbines in May, according to the latest quarterly investor report released Wednesday.

This output currently represents around 220 megawatts of the planned 800-megawatt capacity, which is about 27% of total production – enough to supply clean power to more than 100,000 homes across Massachusetts. Iberdrola, the parent company of Avangrid (one of the project’s developers), also confirmed that Vineyard Wind expects to reach 30% capacity by the end of July and aims to achieve full commercial operation by the end of this year.

Windpower has faced stiff oppostion from the Trump administration issued a stop order on another off shore windfarm Equinor’s Empire Wind project early last month.

Potential Delays Anticipated at Iberdrola’s Massachusetts Wind Farm

June 2025 – Vineyard Wind 1 – the first commercial-scale offshore wind project in the United States – is experiencing potential delays that could extend its completion timeline into 2026. Initially expected to be finished in 2024, recent updates including an extended lease at New Bedford’s Marine Commerce Terminal indicate that construction work will continue well into next year.

Despite Iberdrola’s statement projecting completion by late 2025, progress has remained gradual. By June 2025, only four of the planned 62 turbines were generating electricity for the grid.

Although the project has overcome legal battles and political hurdles, the remaining construction workload and the terminal lease extension through mid-2026 suggest the project may not reach full operation until next year. Vineyard Wind 1 remains a cornerstone of Massachusetts’ renewable energy goals, but its timeline remains uncertain.

Project Milestones

In August 2023, Avangrid, Inc. announced that Vineyard Wind 1 had successfully installed its first GE Haliade-X Wind Turbine Generator (WTG). This was the largest turbine in the Western Hemisphere at the time. Each turbine features a tower, three blades, and a nacelle, with a nameplate capacity of 13 megawatts. Furthermore, they are capable of supplying over 6,000 homes and businesses.

When completed, Vineyard Wind 1 will deploy 62 turbines with a total capacity of 806 megawatts, enough to power more than 400,000 Massachusetts homes. Offshore construction began in late 2022, with the project reaching steel-in-the-water status by June and completing the nation’s first offshore substation by July. The New Bedford Marine Commerce Terminal serves as the main hub for construction and staging. Notably, Vineyard Wind signed the first Project Labor Agreement for a U.S. offshore wind farm in July 2021, committing to create 500 union jobs through the project.

About Vineyard Wind 1

Located 15 miles off Martha’s Vineyard, the Vineyard Wind 1 project is designed to deliver significant clean energy and economic benefits. When fully operational, the project is expected to provide electricity for over 400,000 homes and businesses in Massachusetts. It will also generate 3,600 full-time equivalent (FTE) job years and save customers approximately $1.4 billion over its first 20 years. Additionally, Vineyard Wind 1 will cut carbon emissions by over 1.6 million metric tons annually. This is equivalent to removing 325,000 cars from the roads each year.

Tim Evans, Partner and Head of North America for Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), emphasized:
“This completed turbine represents the dedication of our construction and project teams, along with invaluable support from local communities. Vineyard Wind is the future of U.S. offshore wind — bringing clean, sustainable energy, new jobs, and major carbon reductions. Offshore wind remains a critical pillar of our investment strategy, with the U.S. market at its core.”

Also Read: Polenergia to Take Control of 686-MW Romanian Wind Portfolio

Stay tuned for more Vineyard Wind 1 updates as this historic project moves closer to completion.

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