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Environment & Energy

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Rhiannon12866

(202,970 posts)
Fri Dec 12, 2014, 01:41 AM Dec 2014

U.S. tapping rich new energy source (and it's not oil) [View all]

U.S. oil production may be booming, but America is also hitting another gusher in expanding the nation's energy supplies: wind.

Late next month, the U.S. Department of Interior will auction off more than 742,000 acres in the waters off Massachusetts for the development of commercial wind energy. Twelve companies have qualified to take part in the January 29 auction for the Massachusetts Wind Energy Area, located about 12 nautical miles off the Massachusetts coast.

The Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) says that, if fully developed, the area could support between 4 and 5 gigawatts of commercial wind energy. That would generate enough electricity to power more than 1.4 million homes.

<snip>

Bay State officials have high economic hopes for the project. "This offshore wind energy area not only has the capacity to generate enough electricity to power half the homes in Massachusetts," noted Governor Deval Patrick, "but it will create local jobs and a renewable and home-grown source of power."

More: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-tapping-ample-new-energy-source-and-its-not-oil/

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