Climate Changed

Wind Woos With Millions in Perks Amid U.S. Offshore Rush

New York-New England wind market could reach $70 billion
Communities, ports, fisherman all get nudged for approval

The Block Island Wind Farm off Rhode Island, a pilot project with five turbines that’s the first on the East Coast.Photographer: Eric Thayer/Bloomberg

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By Chris Martin

May 9, 2019 at 10:00 AM UTC

Updated on

May 9, 2019 at 3:56 PM UTC

This article is for subscribers only.

Want to spruce up your downtown, or maybe get $10 million to support workforce training at the local college? How about investments to help rebuild aging ports and establish trust funds for your fisherman?

A U.S. unit of Denmark’s Orsted A/S is now dangling all of those perks in its push to be an early developer of offshore wind in a potential $70 billion East Coast market. The target of the largesse: Community groups with political muscle, the ability to shape public sentiment and access to lawyers.