Image of the Thanet Offshore Wind Farm by Nuon on Flickr.
As the United States struggles to do the right thing in terms of energy policy, the United Kingdom has just switched on the world’s largest offshore wind farm, which consists of “100 turbines spreading over 35 square kilometers, or 13.5 square miles, with a capacity to power more than 200,000 homes.” Also, Danish energy policy is pushing Denmark to be fossil fuel-free by 2050. China is also surpassing the United States in offshore wind development: “Chinese energy companies are expected to submit bids Friday for four offshore wind power projects with a total installed capacity of 1,000 megawatts, representing a combined investment of $3.06 billion.”
As the world population continues to grow and expand, energy demand and energy prices will continue to rise, as nonrenewable energy sources such as oil and coal are depleted. Rising energy prices helped trigger the economic downturn in the United States, so the United States government must protect its economy by aggressively implementing prudent energy policies, which are working in other countries.
More on the east coast’s renewable energy potential via the International Business Times:
Oceana, compared the costs of offshore wind energy with oil and gas. The study focused primarily on the east coast and concluded an investment into wind energy would create jobs, reduce pollution and in many cases create just as much energy as fossil fuels.
All told, Oceana concluded wind energy could produce 30 percent more electricity than economically recoverable offshore oil and gas on the east coast. The group said the investment it proposed would supply nearly half of the current electricity generation of East Coast states. Oceana used conservative estimates of potential ocean spaces for wind farms.
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In six states: Massachusetts, North Carolina, Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia and South Carolina, Oceana said wind energy could completely replace fossil fuels. In the first three states, it would completely reduce the need for any fossil fuels. In the latter three, it at least would replace the energy demand. In some states, energy is exported to other states.
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