Block Island, a cherished summer haven off the coast of Rhode Island, is celebrated for its pristine beaches, breathtaking bluffs, and charming Victorian architecture. This idyllic island, home to approximately a thousand year-round residents, has recently gained another notable distinction: hosting the nation’s inaugural commercial offshore wind farm.
These five impressive turbines began supplying electricity in 2016. While offshore wind projects have faced significant political opposition in the United States, Block Islanders have a different story to tell. For them, wind power has brought about welcome and, at times, surprising improvements to their lives.
This narrative is part of “50 States, 50 Fixes,” a special series dedicated to showcasing local innovations addressing critical environmental challenges across the United States. More inspiring stories are slated for release throughout the year.
“The benefits have been extraordinary,” affirmed Keith Stover, who serves as the head of the island’s Town Council.
Before the turbines began their quiet, offshore rotation, the island was powered by five massive diesel generators. These machines were a constant source of noise and thick, polluting soot. They consumed a staggering million gallons of diesel fuel annually, which had to be laboriously transported from the mainland and stored underground. Energy costs were notoriously unpredictable, fluctuating wildly with the volatile oil market, making budgeting a nightmare for both local businesses and residents. Frequent power surges and dips routinely damaged household appliances and even caused clocks to lose time. Residents living near the power plant often spoke of having to scrape soot from their windows and wash their curtains monthly.
Then, at 5:30 a.m. on May 1, 2017, a new era began. With the offshore turbines fully operational, the island’s utility company finally silenced the diesel generators. As the loud motors gradually whirred down, a new sound emerged, strangely clear and loud in the sudden quiet: birdsong.
“I still get chills when I think about it,” shared Barbara MacMullan, a 30-year resident and chairwoman of the board for the local nonprofit power company.
The wind farm, initially a state-led demonstration project to prove the viability of offshore wind, brought more than just clean energy. Block Island is now connected to the mainland grid via a $120 million undersea cable. The old diesel generators remain silent, reserved only for emergency backup. Critically, this cable also delivered something else transformative: high-speed broadband internet. Previously, internet service was so slow that locals would sometimes take a boat to the mainland just for a reliable connection. The school struggled with basic online tasks. Now, residents can seamlessly stream entertainment, and those with vacation homes or visiting family can extend their stays, working remotely with ease.
Beyond these lifestyle enhancements, the financial benefits are substantial. According to Jeffrey Wright, president of the Block Island Utility District, the cost of electricity is now less than a third of what it would have been if the island were still relying on diesel. (He clarifies that he is not related to Chris Wright, the energy secretary who often criticizes wind energy as expensive and unreliable).
Tourism has not suffered, either. Jessica Willi, executive director of the Block Island Tourism Council, notes that improved electricity and internet are now vital attractions for visitors. While the initial novelty of turbine-themed merchandise and boat tours has faded, chartered fishing trips around the artificial reefs created by the underwater structures of the turbines remain popular.
However, not everyone on Block Island is enthusiastic about the expansion of offshore wind, especially with larger projects becoming visible on the horizon. This includes Revolution Wind, a 65-turbine site that was 80 percent complete when it faced an abrupt halt by the Trump administration. A judge has since ruled that construction can resume while legal battles continue.
By day, these distant turbines appear as tiny white toothpicks, but they become more prominent at night with their blinking red lights. Some islanders express lament over the altered view. Commercial fishermen also voiced unhappiness that the waters around the turbines are now restricted for trawling. There are also ongoing debates about the economic feasibility of offshore wind, which is often cited as one of the more expensive forms of electricity generation.
Despite these criticisms, a significant portion of the community strongly supports the expansion of offshore wind as an essential step to combat climate change. At a public meeting a couple of years ago, a legal team presented arguments against the visual impact of wind farms, encouraging residents to take action against Orsted, the Danish developer behind Revolution Wind and the nearby South Fork Wind project. Instead, residents rallied to defend the projects, arguing their superiority over increased oil and gas drilling. Consequently, the town ceased its work with the attorneys.
“Do we want offshore wind, or do we want more offshore oil drills in the Gulf of Mexico?” Ms. MacMullan posed, highlighting the necessary trade-offs in environmental decisions.
Islanders often link their support for wind energy to a deeply ingrained ethos of conservation, noting that over 40 percent of the island’s land is protected from development. A now-deceased local philanthropist established the Solar Initiative, a group that provides subsidies for residents wishing to install solar panels, heat pumps, and electric vehicle charging stations. He also donated an electric bus to the local school and an electric truck to the utility company.
The wind farm also paved the way for Block Island to establish the state’s first electricity cooperative. Previously, the utility was privately owned, and investors had repeatedly declined the town’s offers to purchase it. However, with the advent of the wind farm and a future no longer dependent on diesel, the owners decided it was time to sell. Creating the co-op required new state legislation, which a dedicated town task force successfully championed. Now, Mr. Wright emphasizes, the customers themselves are in charge of their power, ensuring their voices are heard.
The wind farm generates more energy than the island requires, feeding the surplus into the mainland grid. Given that wind power can be intermittent and more expensive, the island strategically purchases a diversified energy mix from the grid—a standard practice for ensuring a secure and stable power supply. While Block Island began offsetting its fossil fuel mix with renewable energy certificates in 2024, residents expressed a desire for more direct action. Consequently, come November, the island is committed to purchasing 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources.
President Trump frequently criticized offshore wind for its alleged harm to birds and whales. However, locals—from popular restaurants to charming gift shops—are quick to point out that many everyday aspects of modern life pose far greater threats to wildlife. They cite outdoor cats and large windows, estimated to kill billions of birds annually in the United States, and highlight fishing gear entanglement and boat collisions as lethal dangers for whales. Among the strongest proponents of wind energy on the island are Ms. MacMullan, a volunteer rescuing sick or injured seals, and Kim Gaffett, a dedicated bird conservationist for over 40 years.
“I am a bird person, but I’m also an environmentalist, and I’m really concerned about the Earth and our use of fossil fuels,” said Ms. Gaffett, who also chaired the Town Council during the wind farm’s planning phase. “So I’m really into alternatives, and I think wind is a really positive one.”
She stressed the importance of selecting the right location, noting that the area off Block Island was ideal because migrating songbirds generally stay closer to the mainland, and ducks typically fly below the turbine blades. Recreational anglers report excellent fishing around the turbines, where the submerged structures have created vibrant artificial reefs. And the benefits extend beyond the immediate vicinity of the turbines. Mr. Stover recounted a recent fishing trip where a large gray seal snatched his bonito catch twice in a matter of minutes, suggesting a thriving marine ecosystem.