Offshore Wind Wire

ROUNDUP: Maryland Forum Backs Offshore Wind

A panel of labor leaders, politicians and advocates encouraged residents of Montgomery Country — just outside Washington — to support offshore wind development in Maryland, Chevy Chase Patch reported.
Maryland state legislators are expected to reconsider Gov. Martin O’Malley’s ambitious plan to require utilities to buy offshore wind electricity.
“We’re tired of seeing us lose jobs to [...]

FAA Ruling Might Be Good For Cape Wind

By Peter Brennan
Last week, when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit overturned a ruling that Cape Wind’s turbines would pose no hazard to aviation, many assumed that the decision would be the latest setback to the project.

The company, however, believes that the opposite may be true.

The Federal Aviation Administration [...]

ANALYSIS: Explaining the Cape Wind/FAA Ruling

By Todd Griset
As reported by the Offshore Wind Wire, the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind project hit a legal snag last week.  The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued an order overturning a finding by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the Cape Wind project’s wind turbines would pose no [...]

RACE TO THE WATER: New Jersey Takes The Lead!

After a summer (and early fall) hiatus, the Race to the Water returns!
Welcome to the November edition, where we ask our experts which state will host the country’s first offshore wind turbines. And oh my, how the playing field has changed since we last checked in.
After holding the top spot for the first [...]

MORNING ROUNDUP: Court Rejects FAA Cape Wind Ruling

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled Friday that the Federal Aviation Administration erred in finding a “no hazard” determination for the proposed Cape Wind offshore wind farm.
According to the Associated Press report, the court “vacated” the FAA decision and ordered a new review.
“The FAA did misread its regulations, [...]

INTERNATIONAL ROUNDUP: British Energy Secretary Huhne Promises UK Will Be Biggest Market

British Energy Secretary Chris Huhne promised today that the UK will be the largest offshore wind market in Europe, Energy Efficiency News reported.
During a speech at a renewable energy conference in Manchester, he also took aim at an “unholy alliance of short-termists, armchair engineers, climate sceptics and vested interests” who are critical [...]

MORNING ROUNDUP: Siemens Officials Confident In 6 MW Turbine

Offshore wind market leader Siemens Wind Power is confident in its new six megawatt turbine design, which is expected to begin production in 2014, Recharge reported yesterday.
Siemens Chief technology officer Henrik Stiesdal called the turbine — currently being tested in Denmark — the “smartest and most beautiful machine.”
“Whenever you bring in new technology, you [...]

FRIDAY INTERVIEW: Four Questions For Stanley White

Stanley White is the president of Connecticut-based Ocean and Coastal Consultants, Inc.
Offshore Wind Wire: Ocean and Coastal Consultants is involved in 4 of the 41 teams awarded Department of Energy grants to accelerate offshore wind development.  Please give us an overview of these projects.
Stanley White: Ocean and Coastal Consultant (OCC) is part of the COWI group [...]

INTERNATIONAL ROUNDUP: No Deadline For Ontario Offshore Wind Studies

Eight months after suspending all offshore wind development on the Great Lakes, Ontario has not set a deadline to wrap up studies on health and environmental effects of offshore wind development, the Toronto Star reported Monday.
In February, the provincial government suspended all offshore wind development because of alleged concerns about environmental impact. The Star reported [...]

ANALYSIS: Reflecting on AWEA’s Offshore Windpower 2011

By Peter Brennan
During the first offshore wind conference in the post-Solyndra era, optimism was high and the event was well attended, despite being a conference for, as one observer put it, “an industry that does not exist.”
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar created a minor buzz when he announced that the feds expect to announce lease agreements [...]