The U.S. offshore wind industry has announced several multi-gigawatt offshore wind developments; only a handful of projects are currently under construction. The 2.6 GW Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is the largest offshore wind farm under construction in the United States. In contrast, permitting challenges, policy uncertainty, and financing constraints have delayed many larger planned developments.

The largest upcoming offshore wind projects in the U.S. are Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW Commercial), Kitty Hawk South, Empire Wind 1, Atlas Floating Offshore Wind, Canopy Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Revolution Wind. These projects span both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, incorporating fixed-bottom and floating offshore wind technologies.

This article explores the largest offshore wind farms in the United States, examining their installed capacities, technical specifications, current development status, and key contractors.

List of Top 7 New Offshore Wind Farm Projects in US 2026 (according to capacity)

Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project is a 2.6 GW fixed-bottom offshore wind farm located 27 miles (43 km) off the coast of Virginia Beach, Virginia. Developed and owned by Dominion Energy, it is the largest offshore wind project under construction in the United States. 

Once operational, the project will comprise 176 offshore wind turbines capable of generating enough renewable electricity to power approximately 660,000 homes while avoiding up to 5 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

Technical Specifications

CVOW features 176 Siemens Gamesa SG 14-222 DD direct-drive wind turbines, each rated at up to 14.7 MW. The turbines are supported by monopile foundations installed in federal lease area OCS-A 0483, approximately 27 miles offshore. 

The project also includes three offshore substations, around 350 miles of 220 kV HVAC export cables, nearly 200 miles of 66 kV inter-array cables, and extensive onshore transmission infrastructure connecting the wind farm to the regional electricity grid.

Current Status

As of mid-2026, CVOW is under construction. Offshore foundation installation has been completed, turbine installation is underway, and the project has begun delivering its first zero-carbon electricity to the regional grid. 

Onshore transmission infrastructure, including underground export cables, switching facilities, and substation upgrades, is also progressing. Full commercial operation is currently expected in early 2027.

Key Contractors

Kitty Hawk South Offshore Wind Project

The Kitty Hawk South Offshore Wind Project is a proposed 2,400 MW fixed-bottom offshore wind farm located in federal lease area OCS-A 0508, approximately 44 km (27 miles) off the coast of Corolla, North Carolina. 

The project is being developed by Kitty Hawk Wind, LLC, a subsidiary of Avangrid, following the 2023 segregation of the original Kitty Hawk lease. It represents one of the largest remaining offshore wind opportunities for North Carolina after recent lease cancellations and restructuring.

Technical Specifications

The project occupies an 83,443-acre (49,536 ha) lease area awarded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in 2017. It has a planned installed capacity of up to 2,465 MW, with electricity expected to be supplied to North Carolina, Virginia, or other regional customers. 

The Construction and Operations Plan (COP) is being revised to incorporate updated site surveys and engineering studies before final approval.

Current Status

As of mid-2026, Kitty Hawk South is in the planning and federal permitting stage. The project is undergoing environmental review and Section 106 historic and cultural consultations, which are expected to continue through December 2027. 

The project remains paused on the FAST-41 Dashboard while the revised Construction and Operations Plan progresses through the federal review process.

Key contractors

Empire Wind 1

Empire Wind 1 is an 810 MW offshore wind farm located 15–30 miles southeast of Long Island, New York. Developed by Equinor, the project is one of the first offshore wind farms designed to connect directly to the New York City electricity grid. 

Once operational, it will comprise 54 Vestas 15 MW wind turbines and generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 500,000 homes.

Technical Specifications

The project has an installed capacity of 810 MW and includes 54 Vestas 15 MW offshore wind turbines, one offshore substation, and submarine export cables connecting to the Sunset Park Onshore Substation before delivering electricity to the Con Edison grid in Gowanus, Brooklyn. 

The project also includes the redevelopment of the 63-acre South Brooklyn Marine Terminal (SBMT), which will serve as the project's assembly, operations, and maintenance hub.

Current Status

As of mid-2026, Empire Wind 1 is under construction and is more than 60% complete. Jacket foundations and the offshore substation have been installed, while wind turbine installation and commissioning are underway. 

Following a temporary federal lease suspension, construction resumed after Equinor secured a preliminary injunction allowing offshore work to continue. First power is expected in late 2026, with full commercial operation targeted for 2027.

Key contractors

Atlas Floating Offshore Wind

Atlas Wind is a proposed 2 GW floating offshore wind project located approximately 60 miles (95–97 km) offshore from Morro Bay, California. Developed by Equinor Renewables Americas, the project is planned within the 80,062-acre federal lease area OCS-P 0563 and is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to power approximately 1.7 million homes. The project will utilize floating offshore wind technology to harness the strong wind resources of California's deep Pacific waters.

Technical Specifications

The project has a planned installed capacity of over 2 GW and will employ floating offshore wind platforms, as the deep waters off California are unsuitable for fixed-bottom foundations. 

Atlas Wind is part of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) California offshore wind leasing program and is expected to play a significant role in supporting the state's long-term 2045 clean energy targets.

Current Status

As of mid-2026, Atlas Wind is in the early planning stage. Initial environmental, wildlife, and seabed surveys have been completed, while permitting and stakeholder engagement continue. 

Equinor has temporarily slowed project development and paused intensive survey activities to prioritize construction of its East Coast offshore wind projects, including Empire Wind 1. Commercial operation is currently expected in the mid-2030s.

Key contractors

Canopy Offshore Wind

Canopy Offshore Wind is a proposed 1.6 GW floating offshore wind project located approximately 45 km (28 miles) off the coast of Humboldt County, California. Developed by RWE Renewables, the project is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power the equivalent of up to 600,000 households. 

As one of California's flagship floating offshore wind developments, Canopy is intended to support the state's clean energy transition while stimulating economic growth in the Humboldt Bay region.

Technical Specifications

The project has a planned installed capacity of up to 1.6 GW and will utilize floating offshore wind technology, enabling deployment in the deep waters off Northern California where fixed-bottom foundations are not feasible. 

Canopy forms part of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) offshore wind leasing program and will rely on the future Humboldt Bay Offshore Wind Heavy Lift Marine Terminal for the assembly and staging of floating foundations and wind turbines.

Current Status

As of mid-2026, Canopy Offshore Wind is in the early planning/pre-construction stage. RWE continues environmental surveys, site characterization, and regulatory activities while maintaining its local project office in Eureka. 

Although development has slowed due to evolving U.S. offshore wind market conditions and policy uncertainty, the project remains active in the federal permitting process. Construction is not expected to begin until the early 2030s.

Key contractors:

Sunrise Wind

Sunrise Wind is a 924 MW offshore wind farm located approximately 30 miles (48 km) east of Montauk, New York. Developed by Ørsted, the project is one of the largest offshore wind farms currently under construction in the United States. Once operational, it will comprise 84 offshore wind turbines and generate enough renewable electricity to power nearly 600,000 New York homes.

Technical Specifications

The project has an installed capacity of 924 MW and will utilize 84 Siemens Gamesa SG 11.0-200 DD wind turbines, each rated at 11 MW. Sunrise Wind is the first offshore wind project in the United States to use a High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transmission system, reducing transmission losses over long distances. 

The export cables will make landfall at Smith Point Park before connecting to the Holbrook Substation in Brookhaven, New York.

Current Status

As of mid-2026, Sunrise Wind is under construction and approximately 45% complete. The first wind turbine has been installed, while 50 of the 84 monopile foundations and the offshore converter station are already in place. 

Construction resumed in early 2026 following a federal court injunction after a temporary suspension. The project is expected to begin generating electricity by the end of 2026, with full commercial operation targeted for 2027.

Key contractors

Revolution Wind

Revolution Wind is a 704 MW offshore wind farm located approximately 15 miles south of Block Island, Rhode Island, and 32 miles off the coast of Connecticut. Developed as a 50:50 joint venture between Ørsted and Skyborn Renewables, the project is one of the first large-scale offshore wind farms to supply renewable electricity to southern New England. 

Once fully operational, it will generate enough clean energy to power more than 350,000 homes and businesses across Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Technical Specifications

The project, one of the largest wind farms by Ørsted, has an installed capacity of 704 MW and comprises 65 Siemens Gamesa SG 11.0-200 DD offshore wind turbines. Electricity generated by the wind farm will supply 400 MW to Rhode Island and 304 MW to Connecticut. 

Construction includes offshore wind turbine foundations, subsea transmission infrastructure, and onshore grid connections, with staging operations supported through major port facilities in Connecticut and Rhode Island.

Current Status

As of mid-2026, Revolution Wind is under construction and approximately 93% complete. All 65 turbine foundations have been installed, most turbines have been erected, and the project began delivering electricity to the New England grid in March 2026. Full commercial operation is expected during the second half of 2026.

Key contractors

U.S. Offshore Wind Under the Trump Administration

The U.S. offshore wind industry has faced significant policy uncertainty since January 2025, when the Trump administration introduced a series of measures that slowed project development despite growing investment in the sector. These actions included:

• Permitting and leasing freeze (January 2025): A presidential memorandum paused new offshore wind leasing and permitting across the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf. Federal courts later vacated the permitting freeze, allowing approvals to resume.

• Suspension of under-construction projects: In December 2025, the Department of the Interior suspended leases for five offshore wind projects under construction, including Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), Empire Wind 1, Revolution Wind, Sunrise Wind, and Vineyard Wind. All five resumed construction after securing federal court injunctions between January and February 2026.

• Permit review of approved projects: The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) sought to revisit approvals for Maryland Offshore Wind, SouthCoast Wind, and New England Wind. As of mid-2026, none of these projects had their permits formally revoked.

• Lease buyouts: By mid-2026, the U.S. government had completed eight offshore wind lease buyouts worth more than USD 2.5 billion, compensating developers to surrender lease areas.

Major cancelled or surrendered projects: Several large developments were cancelled or relinquished, including:

• Atlantic Shores 1 & 2 (2.8 GW) – New Jersey

• Leading Light Wind (2.4 GW) – New Jersey

• Golden State Wind (~2 GW) – California

• Attentive Energy (1.545 GW) – New York Bight

• Bluepoint Wind – New York Bight

• Ocean Wind 1 & 2 (2.2 GW) – New Jersey

The regulatory changes created a sharp divide between a small group of legacy projects already under construction and a much larger pipeline of proposed offshore wind farms that remain delayed, paused, or cancelled.

Conclusion

The U.S. offshore wind sector presents a mixed picture of substantial long-term potential alongside significant near-term challenges. Projects such as Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Empire Wind 1, Sunrise Wind, and Revolution Wind are advancing through construction and bringing new renewable generation to the grid, while Kitty Hawk South, Atlas Floating Offshore Wind, and Canopy Offshore Wind remain in the planning and permitting phases. These developments collectively illustrate the growing diversity of offshore wind deployment across both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts.

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