At an annual conference by the American Wind Energy Association in Rhode Island, federal officials declared their commitment to speed up the deployment of more offshore wind energy projects.
From the coasts to the Great Lakes, different regions can tap into offshore wind, said Abby Hopper, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. The nation’s total offshore wind energy potential is equal to about double its demand for electricity. Hopper said the time to pursue offshore wind is now.
“We are in a time of transition,” said Hopper. “We are about to have an election in our country. And there will be transition. And that my friend is why you have the Offshore Wind Strategy.”
The Offshore Wind Strategy includes more than 30 actions the federal government pledges to take, to make offshore wind part of the country’s energy portfolio. Hopper said the industry and states need to hold the new administration accountable to these commitments, which includes reducing technology costs and creating an efficient permitting process.
