Europe’s wind-energy industry plays a large and positive role in Europe’s economy. Even in economic recession, the wind power sector employed around 238,000 in 2010. Also in 2010, the wind energy sector contributed almost 0.3 percent of Europe’s total GDP.  There are 15 wind farms off the coasts of Europe consisting of 754 wind turbines all built since 2014. Europe has 3,230 wind turbines that are already installed and connected to the grid.  It is predicted the number of jobs could reach 520,000 to 794,000 by 2030.

The U.S. has one wind farm in progress located off the coast of Rhode Island. The Block Island, RI wind farm is the first commercial-scale offshore wind farm in the nation. Only five turbines are planned for the small Block Island Wind Farm. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) will be instrumental in acclimating the nation to offshore wind. BOEM hopes to introduce larger wind farms up and down the Atlantic coast in years to come.

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