AWEA applauds DOE investment in offshore wind energy

“AWEA applauds the winning teams and Secretary Chu and his staff at the Department of Energy for today’s announcement, which is a significant milestone in efforts to launch the first generation of offshore wind projects in the United States,” said Christopher Long, AWEA’s manager of offshore wind and siting policy.

Seven projects “will receive up to $4 million to complete the engineering, design and permitting phase of this award. The Department will then select up to three of these projects for follow-on phases that focus on siting, construction and installation and aim to achieve commercial operation by 2017. These projects will receive up to $47 million each over four years, subject to Congressional appropriations.”

“Offshore wind energy is a well-established and successful global industry and America stands poised to capture this segment of the market. The winning projects will help to lower costs, accelerate permitting timelines, and promote public and utility acceptance. Developing America’s offshore wind resource will help capture a new manufacturing opportunity and create thousands of new American jobs.”