US awards $141m for three offshore wind farms

Three innovative offshore wind power projects in the US have been awarded up to $47 million (£27.7m) each by the Department of Energy. They are expected to add 67MW of […]

Three innovative offshore wind power projects in the US have been awarded up to $47 million (£27.7m) each by the Department of Energy.

They are expected to add 67MW of offshore wind capacity by 2017 and help drive down costs for future wind farms.

Fishermen’s Energy, Principle Power and Dominion Virginia Power will receive the funds over four year for the projects located off the coast of New Jersey, Oregon and Virginia.

One of the projects will act as a laboratory for researchers to learn about offshore wind and investigate interactions between turbines while another is expected to show the installation, operation and maintenance methods for wind turbines located far from shore.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: “Offshore wind offers a large, untapped energy resource for the United States that can create thousands of manufacturing, construction and supply chain jobs across the country and drive billions of dollars in local economic investment.

“The offshore wind projects announced today further this commitment — bringing more clean, renewable energy to our homes and businesses, diversifying our energy portfolio, and reducing costs through innovation.”

They were selected from seven demonstration projects that each won $4 million (£2.4m) from the Department of Energy in 2012.

Latest Podcast