Effort to speed up off shore wind development

Back in the August, Delaware Senator Tom Carper (D) called on Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to streamline the process of approving and building off shore wind power stations, and now the effort to speed up wind development is starting to take place.

 

Carper joined Salazar and others in Baltimore today to announce a three step plan that will start the wind power flowing much sooner than the previously set timetable of 2017.  The new initiative calls for the creation of a priority wind energy areas for development, improved coordination between governments at the state, local, and federal, and accelerated permitting for wind farms.

Carper says the waters off the coast of Delaware would be a great place to establish a priority wind energy area.  “As it turns out, some of the best areas for harnessing wind and turning it into electricity is about 12 to 14 miles due east of Rehoboth Beach, so we know it’s a good area.”  The goal is to have Delaware’s wind farm in that area up and running by 2014.

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Carper says Delaware should be “The First State” when it comes to off shore wind power, but states like New Jersey, Maryland and Massachusetts will likely follow shortly after Delaware’s wind farm comes on line.

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