Wind energy companies to test off-shore turbine projects

The U.S. is finally stepping up to the plate and exploring the power of wind energy. Despite the fact that Texas has the best source of wind power, the projects will be started off the coast of New Jersey and Delaware. These locations have conditions that are closest to the proven wind projects of Europe.

This is just another step in an oil-independent America, and while it may not be generating power yet, 10 years ago it wouldn’t even have been given a green light to explore the possibility.

From the Miami Herald:

WASHINGTON — The federal government on Tuesday issued its first exploratory leases for wind energy projects on the Outer Continental Shelf, the first step of what could be a race to harness the powerful Atlantic winds not far from major population centers on the East Coast.

The leases will allow wind companies to build testing stations on federal land off the New Jersey and Delaware coasts. Research already has shown that the Northeast has relatively shallow water and few strong hurricanes, which make it a good candidate for existing offshore wind technology.

The U.S. so far produces no electricity from offshore winds, putting it far behind the United Kingdom, Denmark and other northern European countries that have been developing offshore wind for nearly 20 years.

“We are entering a new day for energy production in the United States - a time of clean energy from renewable domestic sources on our Outer Continental Shelf,” Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar said in a statement.

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