Firm claims off-shore wind could supply most of Delaware’s electrical power
Published: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 1:39 PM CDT
The consulting firm Oceana claims that Delaware could generate virtually of its electricity from offshore wind power.
Oceana’s new analysis, “Untapped Wealth: The Potential of Offshore Energy to Deliver Clean, Affordable Energy and Jobs,†estimated wind power potential using very conservative methods, to show that offshore wind on the Atlantic coast could provide much greater energy potential than offshore oil and gas combined. This energy could be used to heat homes and businesses, generate power or power electric vehicles.
A summary of the report did not discuss the issue of back-up generating power in the event that wind power could not be generated and an Oceana representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Delaware, according to the report, has the highest offshore wind generating potential, as a percentage of state electricity generation, 137 percent, of any East Coast state. This shows that the projected 2.9 gigawatts of offshore wind power from the state’s waters could generate more electricity from offshore wind power than the state currently generates, eliminating the need for fossil fuel-based electric generation.
If 2.9 gigawatts of power are generated off the state’s coast, Oceana estimates that 3,000 to 4,800 permanent jobs could be created for Delaware, while saving the state more than $273 million in fuel costs annually.
“Oceana’s research reveals that harnessing offshore wind power would provide more benefits than oil and gas drilling,†said Jacqueline Savitz, Oceana senior campaign director and analysis co-author. “If investing in offshore wind farms can bring in more energy for less money, create more jobs and prevent oil spills, why wouldn’t we do it? Our research shows how Delaware can lead the way,†Savitz added.
“I am a firm believer in the promise of offshore wind power,†said Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE). “The Oceana report confirms what I have been saying for a long time: the development of offshore wind means reliable energy, good paying American jobs and independence from fuels that pollute our air and drain our economy. I will continue to support offshore wind energy through my work in the Senate, for both the state of Delaware and the rest of the nation,†Carper added.
Delaware, Massachusetts and North Carolina could generate enough electricity from offshore wind to equal current electricity generation, entirely eliminating the need for fossil fuel- based electric generation.
U.S. offshore wind generation capacity on the Atlantic coast is at least 127 gigawatts, an amount roughly equal to European projections for offshore wind-generated energy by 2030 on that continent.
For more information, visit http://na.Oceana.org.
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