Fact check: How many offshore wind farms have been built in New England since 2020?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, two offshore wind farms have been built and become operational in New England since 2020: South Fork Wind and Vineyard Wind ^[1]. The Block Island Wind Farm, while mentioned as currently functioning, began commercial operations in December 2016, predating the 2020 timeframe ^[2]. Additionally, Revolution Wind is currently under construction ^[1].

The analyses reveal that three offshore wind facilities are currently functioning in New England total, but only two of these came online after 2020 ^[1]. There are 10 offshore wind farms in various stages of planning, approval, and development in the region ^[3], indicating significant future expansion.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the broader offshore wind development pipeline in New England. Massachusetts and Rhode Island recently announced the selection of 2,878 megawatts of offshore wind in what was described as "the largest offshore wind selection in New England history" ^[4]. This massive procurement will create thousands of jobs and generate billions of dollars in economic activity, suggesting substantial economic benefits for the region.

The analyses also reveal that New England will need 30-45 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity to reach its climate goals by 2050 ^[3], providing crucial context about the scale of development required versus current progress. This suggests that while only two farms have been built since 2020, the region is in the early stages of a much larger buildout.

Energy companies, construction firms, and coastal communities would benefit significantly from the continued expansion of offshore wind development, as evidenced by the job creation and economic activity mentioned in the procurement announcements ^[4].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry. However, the question's framing might inadvertently suggest that progress has been slow, when in fact the offshore wind industry experienced significant economic challenges described as an "economic tsunami" since 2020 ^[1], which provides important context for understanding the development timeline.

The analyses indicate that several sources failed to provide specific information about post-2020 construction ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}, suggesting that comprehensive data on this topic may be limited or scattered across different sources, potentially leading to incomplete public understanding of the actual development progress.