A new report shows that the next direction for progress in the development of alternative forms of energy resources lies in offshore wind. According to the report there are now in the works about six gigawatts (GW) worth of offshore wind projects on the Atlantic coast. This amount of energy is the equivalent of five coal-burning power plants. That amount of energy can power approximately 1.5 million average homes in the United States.
Government analysts estimate that the Atlantic Ocean has a large amount of offshore wind potential. Shallow water wind resources, where today’s technology is most appropriate, is estimated to be about 212 GW of wind resources.
In New York alone, according to the report, about 37.4 GW of wind potential in available in shallow water, with about 15 GW of that as commercially viable after taking into account environmental and socioeconomic factors.
The report was co-sponsored by several environmental, sportsmen, labor, and business organizations including, Utility Workers Union of America, Environment America, National Audubon, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, Conservation Law Foundation, the Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and The National Wildlife Federation, which is America’s largest conservation organization inspiring Americans to protect wildlife for our children’s future.