According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the United States has at least 4,150 gigawatts of potential wind energy along the coastlines. Despite this, the country has yet to establish their first offshore wind farm, making them decades behind some European nations. The project expected to be the first, Cape Wind off of Massachusetts, is still facing legal battles and an unclear completion time.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory determined that the best locations for establishing offshore wind in the country is on the northeast and northwest coastlines. These regions have favorable conditions and average wind speeds of twenty miles per hour. Offshore wind energy is considered more reliable, however, it is also more expensive.
Recently, the U.S. government released environmental reviews that indicated there were no major environmental hurdles to cross to implement offshore wind along the East coast. In what is considered a major step forward for offshore wind in the nation, waters from New Jersey to Virginia were given the go-ahead in terms of environmental considerations.
Wind projects for this region are currently being considered by the government in the states of New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware and Virginia. Concerns have been raised regarding the approval process, that it will be slow and tedious, much like the nearly decade long process for Cape Wind. However, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a statement indicating renewable projects would be more efficiently dealt with.
One potential offshore wind farm for the region would be off the coast of Virginia by Dominion Virginia Power. The electric utility company, the largest in the state of Virginia, has plans to establish an offshore wind farm consisting of upwards of 400 wind turbines.
