Deepwater Wind, the company leading the offshore wind industry in the United States, announced assembly of some offshore structures will start next year.

Deepwater Wind said it selected Gulf Island Fabrication to build steel foundations for its Block Island wind farm set for the Rhode Island coast. Fabrication is expected to begin early next year.

"Gulf Island has been associated with many projects that are first of a kind and while these structures are traditional in nature, the project is the first offshore wind project for the U.S. and we are honored to be a part of this," Kirk Meche, Gulf Island president, said in a statement sent Tuesday to UPI.

The Rhode Island government signed off on environmental permits for what will become the nation's first offshore wind farm, Block Island, in May.

Block Island wind farm will generate enough power to meet the annual energy demands of more than 17,000 households. Construction begins in full swing next year.

"Our goal is not just to build a wind farm -- our goal is to build a local industry for years to come," Deepwater Wind Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey Grybowski said.