The Interior secretary says, “Floating wind has incredible potential.”
President Biden and others in the administration are seeking to develop additional offshore wind energy in deeper waters and plan to auction off leases to spur such energy development by the end of the year.
Typically, offshore wind turbines are attached to the sea floor in shallower waters, but the administration announced that it will also pursue lease sales in deeper waters for turbines installed on floating platforms that are tethered to the floor of the ocean.
The administration has set a new goal of hitting 15 gigawatts of this floating offshore wind — which it says would produce enough energy to power more than 5 million U.S. homes — by the year 2035. They estimate that this will prevent 26 million metric tons of carbon emissions each year. This is the equivalent of the emissions from nearly 26 coal-fired power plants. The administration also has a separate goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind in general — which may or may not include floating offshore wind — by 2030.
“Floating wind has incredible potential. It can establish the United States as a global leader in advancing new technology, and thus new projects, and it can help us achieve our climate and economic goals,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland stated.
In support of the effort, the Energy Department is announcing nearly $50 million for research, development, and demonstration. The agency said it hopes to bring down the cost of floating offshore wind technology by more than 70 percent by 2035.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Secretary Haaland to be prudent in her support of clean energy.
- For discernment for Secretary Granholm as she oversees the pursuit and development of offshore wind projects.
- For President Biden and his energy advisors as they promote the reduction of carbon emissions and alternate energy sources.
Sources: The Hill, Washington Examiner
