Creating the Clean Energy Economy: Analysis of the Offshore Wind Energy Industry

An examination of the market and public policy of offshore wind farms, including obstacles and solutions. Offshore wind power offers an inexhaustible energy source and, in the U.S., is located close to major population centers where demand for energy is highest. To date, this market has been insufficiently tapped. The U.S. has yet to produce a single megawatt (MW) of energy from an offshore wind source. The success of the domestic onshore wind industry foreshadows some of the potential of offshore wind. This chapter hopes to spur action that will unlock this potential. The first section discusses the benefits of offshore wind energy in detail as well as hurdles to market development. The final section proposes tactics that can help overcome these hurdles.