Renewable Energy
Feds Fast-track Mid-Atlantic Wind
The Interior Department says it’s ready to move ahead with offshore wind farms in the Mid-Atlantic. Nearly 200,000 acres of coastal waters near Virginia and Maryland have been approved for wind projects, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said in a Feb. 2 announcement.
Ken Salazar
“When it comes to powering our nation’s homes, businesses and economy, we need to take an all-of-the-above approach to safely and responsibly developing our domestic energy resources,” Salazar said.
“Offshore wind holds incredible potential for our country, and we’re moving full-steam ahead to accelerate the siting, leasing and construction of new projects.”
The Interior Department has tried to expedite wind development in designated areas along the Outer Continental Shelf. Developers would still have to undergo a multi-year permitting process. But Salazar’s announcement could reduce the time needed for environmental reviews by about two years.
The department also said it will streamline the red tape involved with applications for wind energy leases with a new lease form.
“We considered public input and conducted a thorough analysis to ensure future projects are sited in the right places, where the wind energy potential is significant and where environmental effects and conflicts with other uses can be minimized and managed,” said Timothy Boudreau, director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management.
Several offshore wind projects have been proposed along the East Coast, but none have reached commercial operation. Salazar said he anticipates leases in the Mid-Atlantic to be issued by the end of 2012.
Several co-ops in the Mid-Atlantic already purchase wind power as a renewable energy source. Among them: Old Dominion Electric Cooperative, Glen Allen, Va., has wind energy agreements with land-based projects in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Southern Maryland Electric Co-op, Hughesville, also announced a wind purchase deal last July.
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Tags: Department of Interior, Obama Administration, Wind Energy