Speaking at Fort McHenry in Baltimore, Maryland, Salazar said the new permitting process would result in leases issued within two years, instead of the seven years or more that has been the norm for major energy and infrastructure projects in the US.
“Our 'Smart from the Start' Initiative for Atlantic wind will allow us to identify priority Wind Energy Areas for potential development, improve our coordination with local, state, and federal partners, and accelerate the leasing process,” Salazar said.
To underscore his point, Salazar said he only just signed a lease with developers of the nation’s first offshore wind farm – the 130-turbine Cape Wind project off the Massachusetts coast – last month, after an eight-year evaluation process.
“The Cape Wind lease is an historic milestone in America's renewable energy future, but to fully harness the economic and energy benefits of our nation's vast Atlantic wind potential we need to implement a smart permitting process that is efficient, thorough and unburdened by needless red tape,” Salazar said.
The Interior Secretary said the next step will be to meet with the governors of 11 Atlantic Coast states to identify promising areas for wind development.
Likening the process he’d like to see unfold on the East Coast, to the already robust permitting process for solar power in the Us Southwest, Salazar said, “If we are wise with our planning, we can help build a robust and environmentally responsible offshore renewable energy program that creates jobs here at home,” he said.
Salazar also suggested that additional leases could be signed as early as last next year or early in 2012.
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