Sen. Carper Welcomes Obama Administration Major Offshore Wind Announcement

WASHINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) welcomed U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar’s announcement that certain areas of the Outer Continental Shelf off the shores of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and New Jersey are environmentally safe for offshore wind production. This announcement means the Department of Interior can move forward with leasing sales in these areas for new offshore wind projects. The announcement is part of the “Smart from the Start” wind energy initiative for the Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf to better facilitate siting, leasing and construction of new projects, spurring the rapid and responsible development of this abundant renewable resource.

“I continue to be a strong advocate and supporter of offshore wind energy projects off the coast of Delaware and across the country, and this announcement is an important step to making offshore wind a reality in this country,” said Sen. Carper. “Creating energy from wind off our coasts just makes sense. It is a reliable, clean energy resource that will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, curb harmful air pollutants, and create good paying American jobs in manufacturing and construction. I commend Secretary Salazar and the Administration for their commitment to offshore wind. Moving forward, I will continue my efforts to work with the Administration and my colleagues to support initiatives – such as common sense regulations, offshore wind investment tax credits, and clean manufacturing incentives – that will support and strengthen this promising clean energy industry.”

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