American offshore wind is on the verge of a breakthrough. While the industry has been stuck in regulatory purgatory for much of this century, the recent approval of the Vineyard Wind project, America’s first major offshore wind farm, is set to change that. The next decade will be crucial for the success of the industry, and in turn, the United States’s efforts to fight climate change. Despite a slow start and a number of hurdles to tackle, the U.S. could be a world leader in this arena.

The U.S. currently has a total of seven offshore turbines in operation compared to 66,000 onshore turbines. Vineyard Wind will add 84 offshore turbines, and future projects this decade could add up to 2,000. However, it’s not as simple as just plunking turbines in the ocean. There are a number of roadblocks along the way, and addressing them well is critical for the U.S. to take the lead in offshore wind.