Trump Wants Offshore Drilling, but States Are Choosing Wind Energy

[Rhiannon12866]

States bordering the outer continental shelf are looking for carbon-free electricity as the Trump administration rolls back rules requiring it

Atlantic coast states might be protesting President Trump's plan to expand offshore oil drilling, but they're increasingly embracing a different kind of seaborne energy: wind.

States bordering the outer continental shelf are looking for carbon-free electricity, even as the Trump administration rolls back rules requiring it. Last week, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) announced that his state will aim for 3,500 megawatts of installed offshore wind by 2030, enough to power 1 million homes. Massachusetts has a goal to build 1,600 MW of offshore wind power by 2027, and New York has committed to 2,400 MW by 2030.

At the same time, wind technology is quickly advancing, thanks to its popularity in Europe. Ten countries across Europe had deployed 12,600 MW of offshore wind power by the end of 2016. In the United States, the Interior Department's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has issued 13 wind energy leases off the Atlantic coast. In late 2016, the first offshore wind farm in the United States came online about 4 miles off the coast of Block Island, R.I.

It's unclear how the growth in offshore wind might be affected by Trump's plan to open nearly all U.S. waters to oil and gas drilling.

But there are hints that the two types of development could come into contact on the open water.


More: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/trump-wants-offshore-drilling-but-states-are-choosing-wind-energy/

[janterry]

1. You can't stop progress

not really

[duforsure]

2. Oil is quickly becoming like coal

Obsolete, and rejected as a future energy choice. Trump has created the situation where the cost of a barrel of oil has increased 50% since he took office, which helps Russia, and their economy. They don't care about the damage pollution causes, and could care less about the costs to people, or the costs they'll have with health issues from the pollution. Remember the businessman who screwed up Flint water that tuned politician? trump's doing that now on a national scale to air, water, everything he can.

[Rhiannon12866]

3. That's an excellent point.

They have a lot of oil in Russia. And you're absolutely right, he is messing with the environment any way he can. And he has no thought of any other humans besides himself. He wants to send coal miners back into the mines, he doesn't care if the water is polluted or if flooding makes areas of this country inhabitable. He believes that he's in charge of everything now, land sea and air - and he can do whatever he wants with it. And if fellow Americans don't bow and scrape and admire him, they must be "traitors." That's how the worst dictators in history behaved...

[IronLionZion]

4. To be fair, wind spills are almost as devastating as oil spills

Both sides

So blue states are investing in offshore wind farms. Maybe red states will invest in offshore oil drilling. Both will have to live with the consequences. I'd rather take my chances with wind. Oil spills also screw up the tourism and fishing industries.

Wind has been so excellent for Texas that there have been times when electricity was free during cool windy days.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. The governors of every single coastal state have protested the proposed drilling

Florida thought it got a pass, but recent statements indicate it's "still on the table." It's been many years since drilling was considered in the Atlantic, but now no area is safe. Guess the Deepwater Horizon tragedy has been forgotten.

[eppur_se_muova]

6. Gosh, it's almost like the states had ... I don't know ... rights, or something.

Oh, the irony.