Obama’s First Offshore Wind Energy Strategy

Early this week, two members of the Obama cabinet announced an offshore wind energy strategy that includes releasing more than fifty million dollars for offshore wind energy research as well as a plan to fast-track approval of wind farms in wind energy zones.

The National Offshore Wind Strategy: Creating an Offshore Wind Industry in the United States (pdf) unveiled by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu today in a joint press conference in Norfolk, Virginia, focuses on overcoming three key challenges: the relatively high cost of offshore wind energy; technical challenges surrounding installation, operations, and grid interconnection; and the lack of site data and experience with project permitting.

“Through the Strategic Work Plan, the United States is synchronizing new research and development initiatives with more efficient, forward-thinking planning so that we can help quickly stand up an American offshore wind industry,” said Interior Secretary Salazar.

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