US plans to build offshore wind farms

Washington – The United States government on Wednesday unveiled plans to build up to seven major offshore wind farms along the country’s coasts as part of its push to supply wind-generated energy to more than 10 million homes by 2030.

Interior Secretary Deb Haaland made the announcement while speaking at a conference on wind power in Boston, Massachusetts.

“The interior department is laying out an ambitious road map as we advance the administration’s plans to confront climate change, create good-paying jobs, and accelerate the nation’s transition to a cleaner energy future,” she said.

In March, President Joe Biden’s administration announced it would invest heavily to boost offshore wind farms, as part of its efforts to fight climate change.

In addition to wind energy to millions of homes, the administration’s plans would produce 30 gigawatts of wind power by 2030, cut 78 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions and create tens of thousands of jobs.

Haaland said the government aimed to hold up to seven offshore lease sales by 2025 for waters in the Gulf of Maine, Central Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, as well as off the coast of New York, the Carolinas, California and Oregon.

Only one offshore wind farm is fully operational in the US: the Block Island Wind Farm capable of producing 30 megawatts.

The Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind pilot project, with a capacity of 12 megawatts, saw its first phase completed in 2020. The final site is to be completed in 2026 and could supply energy to 600 000 households. –