Delaware Has Wind at Its Back in Offshore Energy Development

Press Release

U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) praised Monday's joint announcement from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu of a new strategic plan that designated Delaware one of four high-priority Wind Energy Areas in the mid-Atlantic. The designation means Delaware's offshore wind energy development projects will receive expedited review and approval from the federal government.

"I'm pleased that Delaware is at the forefront of the federal government's "Smart from the Start' initiative," Senator Coons said Monday. "This is good news for Delaware, both for the opportunity it gives our state to be a leader in clean, alternative energy development and for the chance to create a wealth of new high-tech jobs in the region."

The joint plan, A National Offshore Wind Strategy: Creating an Offshore Wind Industry in the United States, demonstrates the Obama Administration's strong commitment to alternative energy and represents the first time the departments of Interior and Energy have partnered in their approach to offshore wind energy. The plan focuses on overcoming three challenges -- cost, technology, and grid interconnection -- and could result in leases for wind farming off Delaware's shore being issued as early as late 2011 or early 2012.

The Department of Energy announced three grants totaling $50.5 million in conjunction with today's announcement. The grants are designed to encourage investment in research and development and to reduce specific market barriers to deployment of wind energy projects.

"It is my hope and expectation that this strategy will not only speed-up deployment of the projects already planned for Delaware, but encourage new wind projects off our shores, as well as research into innovative new technologies and development of a clean energy manufacturing base," Senator Coons said. "This is an exciting step forward that I believe will attract new investments in Delaware."

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