Topline
The White House outlined plans on Monday to dramatically expand offshore wind farms in the U.S. as part of an attempt to transition the nation to cleaner energy, saying the effort would power up to 10 million American homes and sharply cut carbon emissions.
Large energy producing wind turbines that make up Noble Ellenburg Windpark are seen near an old farm ... [+]
Key Facts
The plan would establish a zone designated to wind energy along the East Coast, where the government would seek to accelerate the development of offshore farms between Long Island and New Jersey through investments in port infrastructure, loans to the industry and research and development.
The White House said the plan would double U.S. offshore wind power to 30 gigawatts by 2030 and reduce emissions of the planet-warming gas carbon dioxide by 78 million metric tons.
Key Background
President Joe Biden has pledged to put the U.S. on track to be carbon neutral by 2050, meaning the nation would seek to neutralize net emissions of the gas. While Republicans have complained that a departure from fossil fuels that produce carbon dioxide would drive out jobs in their states and harm the economy, Democrats have said moves to protect the environment would create jobs in other industries. The White House claimed its planned Wind Energy Area along the coast would support more than 44,000 workers by the end of the decade and nearly 33,000 additional jobs in nearby communities.
Crucial Quote
“President Biden believes we have an enormous opportunity in front of us to not only address the threats of climate change, but use it as a chance to create millions of good-paying, union jobs that will fuel America’s economic recovery,” said White House national climate adviser Gina McCarthy.
Tangent
The Interior Department completed early this month a review of plans for the first major U.S. offshore wind project. The cleared hurdle put Vineyard Wind, located off of the coast of Massachusetts, one step closer to construction after the project proposal had been slow-walked for years by local and federal officials.