Coastal wind farms have their problems but they may soon be bringing cleaner energy to the East Coast of the USA. Denmark’s offshore turbines provide 25% of their energy needs and that capacity is set to double by 2020. Wind is a very cost effective source of energy and much of the equipment is made in America. Wind energy provides over 10% of the electricity in 5 states and 20% in Iowa, but so far coastal installations have been blocked for various reasons including simply aesthetics. The Weather Channel reported for the first time the federal government sold competitive leases for wind energy on the outer continental shelf. Deepwater Wind, a Rhode Island company was the provisional winner with a $3.8 million bid for an area a little over 10 miles off the Rhode Island and Massachusetts coast.
See also: InClimate 145, 65; May 26 (Fossil Fuel Free Future) Mar 7 (More on Wind Power)