Vineyard Power is entering a new phase in its plans to develop a wind farm south of the Vineyard. Having successfully partnered with developer Offshore MW to secure a lease on 167,886 acres in January, the Island-owned energy cooperative is now focusing on public outreach.

Rhode Island Fast Ferry has partnered with Deepwater Wind to build a new transport vessel for technicians working on the country’s first offshore wind energy project, located between Block Island and the Vineyard.

While Island kids slid joyfully down snow-covered hills last week, Cape Wind continued to have rough sledding.

The Island-owned energy cooperative, along with a partner, was awarded a provisional lease to develop an offshore wind farm in federal waters off the Vineyard.

Vineyard Power, the Island-owned energy cooperative, is preparing to partner with a private developer in bidding for leases early next year in the federally owned wind energy area 12 nautical miles south of the Vineyard.

Developers will bid on 25-year leases on one or more of the zones at a federal auction Jan. 29.

The Island energy cooperative is entering the next phase of its plan to build a 40-megawatt wind farm south of the Vineyard, and has reached a clear turning point in its young history, president Richard Andre said at the fifth annual meeting Saturday.