More offshore wind news–what's in the water?

This was a week in which the wind news seemed to move offshore. First, there was Interior Secretary Salazar meeting with interested parties in the long-running Cape Wind drama; Salazar promised to end the suspense–make a decision on the project–by April.

Then Fishermen's Energy announced a small but potentially symbolic offshore wind farm–it could be the first to be built–that would supply electricity to Atlantic City, a place where the tourists would probably like to see the turbines (as opposed to some residents of Cape Cod).

Today, Secretary Salazar announced another initiative, a meeting next month in Washington of governors from states along the Atlantic Coast that are considering wind projects. Salazar wants the officials to discuss how they can “support and coordinate the development of this new industry.”

Salazar said, “Wind energy production in the Atlantic offers great promise and this meeting will provide an opportunity for us to exchange ideas and chart a course forward to advance further development. A coordinated approach to wind energy will serve all our interests in establishing the proper framework for appropriate development of this important resource.”

Jennifer Banks, a siting specialist at AWEA, said, “Secretary Salazar has continued to lead the way in getting offshore wind projects moving off the East Coast. This is another example of his initiative and we applaud it.”

Also this week, a new offshore wind power group, the Virginia Offshore Wind Coalition, announced Friday in Virginia Beach their goal to create the “Silicon Valley of wind energy on the East Coast.”

According to WRAL.com, the coalition said developing an offshore wind energy hub in Virginia Beach could result in an $80 billion industry that could supply more than 10,000 jobs.