Energy Department Declares Offshore Wind Energy Plans

The Energy Department on May seven announced the selection of 3 pioneering offshore wind demonstrations to gain up to $47 million each over the next 4 years to deploy innovative, grid-connected systems in federal and state waters by 2017. These projects-located off the coast of New Jersey, Oregon, and Virginia-will help speed the deployment of more efficient offshore wind power technologies.

The 3 plans selected are aimed at deploying offshore wind installations in U.S. waters by 2017:

• Fishermen's Energy will install 5 5-megawatt direct-drive wind turbines approximately 3 miles off the coast of Atlantic City, New Jersey. This plan will utilize an innovative, U.S.-developed twisted jacket foundation that is simpler and less expensive to manufacture and install than traditional offshore wind foundations.

• Principle Power will install 5 6-megawatt direct-drive wind turbines approximately 18 miles off the coast of Coos Bay, Oregon. The U.S.-developed WindFloat semi-submersible floating foundation will be installed in water in excess of 1,000 feet deep, demonstrating an innovative solution for deep water wind turbine plans and lowering costs by simplifying installation and eliminating the need for highly specialized ships..

• Dominion Virginia Power will install 2 6-megawatt direct-drive wind turbines 26 miles off the coast of Virginia Beach, utilizing a U.S.-designed twisted jacket foundation. Dominion's plan will demonstrate installation, operation and maintenance methods for wind turbines located far from shore. Additionally, the Dominion plan will install and test a hurricane-resilient design.

The Energy Department's efforts to advance innovative offshore wind technologies support the Obama Administration's comprehensive National Offshore Wind Strategy to develop a sustainable, world-class offshore wind industry. As part of that strategy, the Energy Department continues to work with partners across the government, including the Department of the Interior, to conduct resource assessments, streamline siting and permitting, and overcome technical and market challenges to installation, operations, and grid connection. See the Energy Department news release, the Energy Blog, and the Wind Program's Offshore Wind Web page.

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