Offshore Wind Wire

Governors from three coastal states are scheduled to speak this week at an offshore wind event in Boston.

Gov. Deval Patrick (D-MA), Gov. Donald Carcieri (R-RI) and Gov. Jack Markell (D-DE) are each attempting to position their states at the forefront of offshore wind development in the United States.  Patrick is scheduled to speak Wednesday morning to kick off the American Wind Energy Association’s two-day offshore wind workshop.  Carcieri and Markell will speak Thursday.

Patrick has pushed Massachusetts to develop the nation’s first comprehensive ocean management plan, which will set aside areas of state water for large scale wind farms.

In January, Carcieri signed an agreement with Deepwater Wind to develop offshore wind turbines near Rhode Island.  Carcieri’s office has set a timetable that would make the Rhode Island project the first offshore wind farm in the United States.

Markell signed a Memorandum of Understanding early this month with Virginia and Maryland to form a offshore wind development partnership.  At the time, Markell said the partnership would help “leverage the resources and energy of our three state governments to help our region become the true powerhouse for this important source of renewable, reliable alternative energy.”

The AWEA workshop will also feature speakers from Cape Wind, Bluewater Wind and Deepwater Wind who will provide updates on their projects.