US offshore group launched

US: AWEA has announced the formation of an offshore development group as part of its efforts to promote the sector in the US.

Despite abundant resources the US is yet to launch its first offshore wind farm

The group, which has been titled thee Offshore Wind Development Coalition (OffshoreWindDC), will be headed up by former Deepwater Wind managing director Jim Lanard.

AWEA said OffshoreWindDC would "focus on advocacy and education efforts to promote offshore wind energy". Members include Apex Wind, Cape Wind, Deepwater Wind, Fishermen’s Energy, NRG Bluewater Wind, OffshoreMW and Seawind Renewable.

Denise Bode AWEA CEO said: "Offshore wind provides a great opportunity to increase the use of renewable energy, thanks to the strong and steady winds that blow off our shores and proximity to electricity demand centres, particularly along the Eastern Seaboard."

AWEA claims around 5GW of offshore projects are in various stages of development in the US. However many have faced development difficulties, most notably the Cape Wind development in Nantucket Bay.

Last month, interior secretary Ken Salazar and 10 East Coast states have created the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium, a group dedicated to promoting the development of wind energy on the US Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).