From California to Maine, the race to build vast arrays of offshore floating wind turbines is finally taking shape after years of R&D.
At an estimated 2.8 terawatts, floating offshore wind has the potential to satisfy more than twice the current electricity demand of the US, putting fossil-powered generation to bed once and for all. On the West Coast, California has emerged as the leading hotspot for floating wind development but they better keep moving because the East Coast state of Maine is determined to come out ahead.
As for when the first floating wind turbines will set sail in US waters, that depends on where the East Coast – West Coast race ends up. In July the California Energy Commission adopted a formal roadmap that recounts, in excruciating detail, all the pieces that need to fall into a place before construction can begin, indicating that years of planning and preparation are in store.Meanwhile, Maine may skip ahead with a plan of its own.
“In identifying these areas, BOEM prioritized avoidance of offshore fishing grounds and identification of vessel transit routes, while retaining sufficient acreage to support the region’s. These efforts are designed to set an informed foundation to deconflict multiple ocean uses in areas of future offshore wind energy development,” BOEM added.Despite all the groundwork, proposals to send wind turbines floating into the Gulf of Maine have met with opposition.
In a press statement, Maine Governor Janet Mills underscored the over-arching goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Mills has positioned Maine as a national leader on climate action, and her administration has emphasized the economic benefits of ending the state’s dependence on “expensive, harmful fossil fuels” in favor of “homegrown, renewable energy sources.
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