The Department of Interior (DOI) released a report concluding that shallow water wind energy alone could provide at least
20% of the electricity needs of almost all coastal states.
And when deep-water potential is taken into account, the National Renewable Energy Lab has identified more than 1,000 gigawatts (GW) of wind potential off the Atlantic coast, and more than 900 GW of wind potential off the Pacific Coast. The Lab estimates that the wind power potential off the coasts of the lower 48 states exceeds the entire U.S. electricity demand.
The report is part of the Department’s comprehensive review of offshore energy policy.
The report also found that the entire Atlantic and Pacific coasts contain perhaps two years worth of oil and two and a half years of natural gas at current consumption rates, not consumption in 2030 when this energy would really be available.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said information will be a starting point for public comment meetings around the country in the next few weeks, starting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and New Orleans, Louisiana, next week.
“America’s own oil and natural gas supplies are limited,” Salazar said. “We sit on 3 percent of the world’s oil reserves. We consume 25% of its oil. Our dependence on foreign oil is a national security problem, an environmental security problem, and an economic security problem.”
“More than three-fourths of the nation’s electricity demand comes from coastal states and the wind potential off the coasts of the lower 48 states actually exceeds our entire U.S. electricity demand,” Salazar said.
Environment
America Oceans Advocate Mike Gravitz said in a statement: “Secretary Salazar’s fresh look at the nation’s ocean energy policy
reveals that change is in the wind . . . and waves. We couldn’t
agree more with the report’s conclusion that ‘renewable energy sources
appear more attractive [than fossil fuels] as we look for ways to
address environmental, economic, and energy security.’ Offshore
drilling doesn’t need to be expanded beyond existing places to achieve
those goals.
The DOI and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last month confirmed their intent to work together to facilitate the permitting of renewable energy in offshore waters, following several years of turf wars.
Currently, there are more than 2,000 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind projects proposed in the United States.
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