Update: Governor signs executive order ordering study of offshore wind options

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Gov.  John Carney Monday signed an Executive Order establishing the Offshore Wind Working Group.

“We must look for ways to participate in the development of alternative energy sources,” said  Carney. “It’s the right decision for our environment, but the development of new sources of energy is also good for our economy, and for the creation of good-paying jobs. This new working group will help us explore the potential economic and environmental benefits of offshore wind development for Delaware.”

U.S. Sen.  Tom Carper, the ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and co-sponsor of the Incentivizing Offshore Wind Power Act, attended Monday’s executive order signing.

The working group will begin meeting next month and will review economic opportunities and environmental benefits of offshore wind development, and the costs and benefits of developing offshore wind. Working group members also will review laws and regulations governing the development of renewable energy, and recommend changes. Additionally, they will identify barriers and opportunities involved in developing offshore wind,  a release stated. 

By December 15, the working group will submit a report to the governor that makes recommendations on short- and long-term strategies for developing wind power.

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An area off Rehoboth was first targeted as the site of an offshore wind site by Bluewater Wind. Delmarva Power agreed to buy electricity from the project to meet its alternative energy mandates.

However, the project was doomed, due to the economic downturn and uncertain credit markets.

Among those  on hand for the signing of the Executive Order was  Dr. Jeremy Firestone of the University of Delaware, a longtime advocate of offshore wind power.

UD research has indicated that wind power off the Atlantic Coast could meet most of the power demands of the region.

Meanwhile, Maryland has moved aggressively on the wind power front, with the approval of two projects off Ocean City that are situated close to the southern edge of Delaware. One project would feed power into the grid in Delaware. (See story below).

Maryland regulators OK energy credits for two wind farms off Ocean City

 

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