Offshore Wind Wire

By William Morgan

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar appealed to the governors of six Atlantic Coast states last week to work with the federal government on a collaborative approach to offshore wind development in federal waters.

“A coordinated, region-wide approach to offshore wind will help us move forward with orderly development in the Atlantic [Outer Continental Shelf],” Salazar said, according to an Interior Department press release.  “Region-wide planning could foster cooperative approaches to developing the infrastructure necessary to service offshore wind development.”

The Feb. 19th Washington, D.C. meeting was attended by Gov. John Baldacci of Maine, Gov. Donald Carcieri of Rhode Island, Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware, Gov. Martin O’Malley of Maryland and the newly elected Gov. Bob McDonnell of Virginia.  Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick called in to the meeting.  McDonnell was the only Republican governor in the group.

New Jersey and New York are the other Atlantic coast states with proposed offshore wind developments.

The Minerals Management Service — the Interior agency responsible for offshore wind siting — has established joint state and federal task forces in seven states to discuss the development of offshore wind in federal waters.  Those states are Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.  The Interior Department press release said that joint task forces are also being planned for Florida and North Carolina.