May 4, 2009

Vice President Biden, Gov. Markell, Underscore Renewable Energy Potential on Outer Continental Shelf

Newark, Delaware — Vice President Joe Biden, Gov. Jack Markell, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) visited the University of Delaware on May 4, where they underscored the importance of alternative energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), especially offshore wind resources for Delaware and other Atlantic coastal states.  On Earth Day, President Obama announced that Interior had finalized a long-awaited framework for renewable energy production on the OSC.

“This administration sees the ever-lasting benefits in a clean-energy future. With this rule, the Interior Department is unlocking our vast offshore renewable resources," said Vice President Biden. "By harnessing offshore wind power and other resources we will be able to power tens of millions of homes using clean, renewable power."

“Delaware must become a leader in alternative energy,” Gov. Markell said. “It is good for our environment because it reduces the pollution in our air, water and soil, and it is good for our economy.”

“The administration’s final regulations for alternative energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf are opening America’s oceans and new energy frontier, so that we can wisely build a clean energy economy that will create millions of new jobs across the country,” Secretary of the Interior Salazar said. “This new framework, completed in the first 100 days of President Obama’s administration, will enhance our energy security, create the foundation for a new offshore energy sector and share much-needed revenues from this development with coastal states.”

“Harnessing our nation’s offshore wind means reliable power, cleaner air and new American jobs,” Sen. Carper said. “The First State is poised to again be a leader in independence - energy independence.  These new renewable energy regulations ensure Delaware can move forward with one of the first offshore wind projects in the United States.”

The National Renewable Energy Lab has identified more than 1,000 gigawatts of wind potential off the Atlantic coast and more than 900 gigawatts of wind potential off the Pacific Coast. The State of Delaware’s average wind power production equals 5,286 megawatts which would power 1.2 to 1.5 million average homes, according to a University of Delaware study (Kempton July 2008).

Delaware and other Atlantic coast states encourage and support the development of offshore wind energy. The Delaware legislature now requires that 20% of the Delaware’s
electricity come from renewable sources by the year 2019 and Delmarva Power has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Bluewater Wind to sell the utility up to 200 megawatts of power from an offshore wind facility on the OCS.

Interior’s Minerals Management Service has been evaluating a proposal from Bluewater Wind for a meteorological data collection project on the Outer Continental Shelf about 12.5 miles off Delaware’s coastline to assess wind energy resources.  If approved, this project would collect site-specific wind velocity, duration and related information that could support future commercial wind energy development. Bluewater Wind is looking to construct a 150-turbine field that could produce 230 to 450 megawatts of power.  The project would generate more than 1,000 jobs during construction, invest $800 million and produce millions of dollars in revenue for the state each year.