DOE Invests $13.5 Million in Offshore Wind

Last week, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced it would be investing $13.5 million in offshore wind development. The administration’s increased focus on generating energy via wind has become a main component of President Biden’s plan for the U.S. to reach 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 and net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Harnessing the incredible potential that exists within offshore wind energy is an essential piece of reaching a net-zero carbon future,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm, who spoke to the ASME community during the inaugural ASME Policy Impact event in May. “In order for Americans living in coastal areas to see the benefits of offshore wind, we must ensure that it’s done with care for the surrounding ecosystem by co-existing with fisheries and marine life – and that’s exactly what this investment will do.”

Over the past year, the federal government has taken many steps to advance offshore wind energy production in the U.S., including launching a new National Offshore Wind Goal to coordinate new leasing, funding, and other incentives designed to enable deployment of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030. Congress too has made efforts to promote wind energy production, such as holding hearings to examine offshore energy development in federal waters, including wind, oil, and gas.

In addition to wind, the administration is rapidly investing in solar energy production. DOE believes that solar will play an important role in decarbonization in the coming years and believes that by 2035 solar could make up 40% of the nation’s electricity if the U.S. adopts policies that support grid flexibility and storage and development of advanced technologies.

For more information on ASME’s energy policy guiding principles, visit: https://www.asme.org/wwwasmeorg/media/resourcefiles/aboutasme/get%20involved/advocacy/policy-publications/ps20-07-asme-energy-policy-guiding-principles.pdf.