Delaware Offshore Wind Farm

The Delaware Offshore Wind Farm is a proposed offshore wind farm project, to be situated off the Delaware coast. It is one of many major off-shore wind farms that have been proposed on the East Coast of the United States.^[1] Other similar projects include installations in Massachusetts, and New Jersey.^[2][3][4]

Offshore wind farms are a key part of the Obama administration, which is promoting a $150 billion government program for reduced carbon emissions and 5 million new "green collar" jobs.^[5][6][7][8]

Details

The Delaware Project came closer to reality when Delmarva Power of Delaware agreed to purchase 200 megawatts of power from a large wind farm to be operated by Bluewater Wind offshore from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.^[9]

Originally planned^[when?] to be 600 MW, the Delaware project is expected to be built as 200 MW initially^[when?], and is frequently referred to as the Bluewater Wind Park, although Bluewater Wind is also planning wind parks in four other states, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Rhode Island.^{[citation needed]}

The Delaware project is spearheaded by Bluewater Wind, LLC, an alternative energy company owned by the investment firm Babcock & Brown. Hundreds of large and small companies are participating in major offshore wind farms, including ABB, Aeorads, Downes Associates Ltd., Fluor, Ramboll, Tetra Tech, Inc., and Vestas.^{[citation needed]}

Environmental impact

Environmental information, including environmental impact statements, for the Delaware Offshore Wind Farm are published by the Aeorads Company, an information technology company in the alternative energy industry that collects, publishes, and analyzes real-time and historical Internet-based information for proposed and existing wind, solar, geothermal, biofuel and other alternative energy facilities in the U.S. and throughout the world.^[10] Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy;^[11][12]

Opposition to offshore windfarms is mostly based on possible negative impact to the environment and wildlife, primarily bird and sea species. Additional environmental objections include reduced or impaired fishing grounds and the potential for collisions with air and ocean vessels.

See also

• Wind power in the United States
• Atlantic Wind Connection
• Wind power in New Jersey
• Environmental impact statement
• Renewable energy

References

1. ^ “The War Over Offshore Wind Is Almost Over”, Businessweek, June 26, 2008,
2. ^ “Block Island embracing offshore wind farm plan”, The Boston Globe (October 19, 2008)
3. ^ “New Jersey to Develop First East Coast Offshore Wind Farm”, Environment News Service (October 15, 2008)
4. ^ “Key hurdles cleared, Cape Wind ready to rev up”, Cape Cod Times, February 4, 2009.
5. ^ "New Energy Policy", Barack Obama (2009)
6. ^ "Stimulus could aid builders, carmakers, clean tech", Associated Press Newswire (February 10, 2009)
7. ^ "Obama says renewable energy key to economic future", Reuters UK (February 9, 2009)
8. ^ "Obama’s Green Dream: Would His Renewable-Energy Plan Make a Difference?" The Wall Street Journal
9. ^ “Agreement Reached On Del. Wind Farm”, The Washington Post, June 24, 2008, page B02.
10. ^ Dun & Bradstreet Report (1992)
11. ^ Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy
12. ^ Garden State Offshore Energy, Renewable Energy Development News (March 5, 2008)

External links

• Aeorads website
• BluewaterWind, LLC
• CapeWind website
• Garden State Offshore Energy

Coordinates: 38°42′N 74°47′W / 38.7°N 74.783°W / 38.7; -74.783