France recently launched its first floating wind turbine. The new turbine is called Floatgen. It is near the country’s western coast. Makers of the turbine say it is able to provide electricity for as many as 5,000 homes. It also is France’s first attempt at offshore wind energy: electricity produced by turbines located in the ocean. The project cost $29.5 million. A number of European businesses and research groups are supporting the Floatgen Project. Bruno Geschier is head of sales and a marketing manager for Ideol, the company that coordinated the project. He said the next step is to produce offshore wind farms. The goal, he said, is 50 much larger offshore turbines that are able to provide electricity to hundreds and thousands of people.