US Interior Secretary Praises RI Offshore Wind Progress

Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell delivered keynote remarks at the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) Offshore WINDPOWER Conference in Providence, Rhode Island on Tuesday, October 22, where she highlighted the important role of clean energy in the President’s Climate Action Plan and powering the economy.

Interior Secretary Sally Jewell welcomed Rhode Island effort to build America’s first offshore wind farm.  She added: ‘‘This is a part of the country that is leading this effort, Rhode Island in particular.’’

Providence-based Deepwater Wind is planning to build two wind farms off RI coast, 30MW wind farm located off Block Island and nation’s first 1,000 MW-scale offshore regional energy center between Block Island and Martha’s Vineyard.

Efforts to spur responsible development of offshore wind energy are part of a series of Obama Administration actions to increase renewable energy both offshore and onshore by improving coordination with state, local and federal partners.

As part of the President’s comprehensive Climate Action Plan, he has challenged Interior to re-double efforts on its renewable energy program by approving an additional 10,000 megawatts of renewable energy production on public lands and waters by 2020. As part of that challenge, Interior this year has already held two successful, competitive offshore wind lease sales offshore Rhode Island & Massachusetts and Virginia.

AWEA is the national trade association of America’s wind industry, with over 1,300 member companies, including global leaders in wind power and energy development, wind turbine manufacturing, component and service suppliers.

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Deputy Director Walter Cruickshank joined the Secretary at the conference, participating in a panel discussion later that morning on “Advancing Development through Federal Agency Leadership.”

Press release, October 25, 2013; Image: doi