Feds Grant First Ever Leases for Offshore Wind Energy Exploration

[Nathanael]

U.S. Federal government is making more progress on bringing offshore wind to the country:




The U.S. Department of Interior has given the green light to four companies to study and explore offshore wind farm development in the United States.

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, along with Governor Jon Corzine, made the announcement yesterday at a news conference in New Jersey. Although Europe has several offshore wind farms, America does not. The leases were the first of its kind issued by the federal government.


Link: http://www.energyboom.com/feds-grant-first-ever-leases-offshore-wind-energy-exploration

[Laelth]

1. Welcome to DU.

To your OP I say this: Boondoggle. Industrial blight. Not clean, and not useful. Waste of money.

But it seems to make a lot of people happy ... especially the people who make the wind turbines. You'll be hearing from their representatives soon--right after they read my response. LOL.

Wind Power BLOWS.

See the following:
http://www.keepersoftheblueridge.com/faqs.html
http://www.nortexwind.org/index.htm
http://www.stopillwind.org/index.php
http://windconcernsontario.wordpress.com/
http://www.savewesternny.org/
http://www.wind-watch.org/
http://www.epaw.org/
http://www.windturbinesyndrome.com/?p=166
http://www.rivercitymalone.com/?p=654
http://spectator.org/archives/2009/04/21/the-unbearable-lightness-of-wi
http://notesfromotherside.blogspot.com/2009/04/more-on-renewable-energy.html
http://www.pest-03.org/ (Power Engineers Supporting Truth)

Or just watch this series of videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNxvkrgoPLo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_utFV2ukOtU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOd5tSZF3A4&feature=related

There's more, but you get the idea. :)

The United States is a LIBERAL Country.

:dem:

-Laelth

[Nathanael]

2. It's Too Early To Write Off Wind Power

Thank you for the welcome, and for the links. It is important to know the full story.

There may be some issues with wind energy. For example, intermittent power and some environmental concerns (bats). However, the technology just continues to get better and more developed. And, furthermore, it does serve as a viable source of energy. It was the fastest growing energy technology in Europe last year, including coal and natural gas. The British government just issued a release which stated it could generate enough energy from offshore wind turbines to provide electricity to 25% of the U.K; that is a significant chunk.

Wind power may not be the total answer to the "energy" question. But, it should be part of it. There is nothing wrong with having multiple sources of energy. If the modern world were not so dependent on coal and oil the transition away from these energy sources would be much smoother.

[diane in sf]

3. Welcome, good article and news, ignore that guy above, he's a one trick pony.

[Nathanael]

5. Thanks

I am glad you liked it. I'll keep your advice in mind.

[One_Life_To_Give]

4. Yet no final ruling on Cape Wind

Not that it really is going to be final with several lawsuits already pending before the Mass Supreme Judicial Court (SJC). And surely the nimbys will find another tactic to try and further block this. I wonder if the local Marina's around the Cape and Islands also ban Sailboats with small turbines like the Air-X 403 I see on boats moored along the river.