Biden embraces more offshore wind
A US lobbying group supporting offshore energy development lauded a May 25 federal decision to support wind developments in the Pacific, though the praise was not universal.
In coordination with California state officials, the US Interior Department said it was moving forward with plans to develop wind power off the state’s coast. Washington estimates the region could support as much as 4.6 GW of wind energy.
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Erik Milito, the president of the National Ocean Industries Association, said that for the US to position itself as a wind energy leader, it needed to consider developments off California.
“The nation’s most populous state is now on a path towards tapping a generational energy and economic opportunity,” he said. “Opening the door to development offshore California will prime the Pacific Coast to be another American offshore wind hub and economic driver and will enhance American wind leadership.”
The federal government identified over 1,000 km2 that could support the initial develop of 3 GW of offshore wind energy, helping the state effort to reach carbon neutrality by 2045.
Gavin Newsom, the state’s governor, described wind energy development as a win-win, supporting job creation while cleaning up the grid.
“This historic announcement, which could provide clean power for up to 1.6 million homes over the next decade, represents the innovative approach we need for a clean energy economy that protects the coasts, fisheries, marine life, and tribal and cultural resources we value so much as Californians,” he said.
But the praise was not all universal. Pam Flick, the California programme director of advocacy group Defenders of Wildlife, said the pursuit of wind energy was admirable, but that it should respect offshore ecosystems.
“Defenders supports responsibly sited, developed and operated offshore wind and we look forward to working with the state to ensure that renewable energy development is informed by science-based conservation measures that consider imperiled wildlife, such as the humpback whales that seasonally migrate along our iconic coastline,” she said.
This is the second major offshore wind announced from president Joe Biden’s administration this month. The government already sanctioned a $2bn development off the coast of Massachusetts, the Vineyard Wind energy project, that will be the largest of its kind to be commissioned for US waters.
The administration has set a goal of securing 30 GW of energy from offshore wind by 2030.