June 14, 2019 — As many American states are making the push to use more renewable energy sources, engineers in one of the country’s oldest states are looking “across the pond” for help from British scientists to harness the power of the wind.
When Joseph Massi enrolled at Bristol Community College, an hour’s drive south of Boston, Massachusetts, he chose to specialise in a brand new field of study – offshore wind power.
“It’s the new future. It’s where everything is going to be, the growth potential, especially in Massachusetts,” Mr Massi said.
The Massachusetts legislature is considering bills that would commit the state to 100% renewable energy within 25 years. To achieve this, the state will need lots more solar panels and wind turbines, and people like Mr Massi to manage, build or operate offshore turbines.
“Once it starts booming in the United States, that’s going to be where you’ll want to be,” Mr Massi said.
The federal government estimates that the coastal waters off of New Bedford, Massachusetts, are among the windiest in the nation.
But here’s some bad news. The US doesn’t know much about building wind turbines, out in the ocean at least.