$50 Million For Offshore Wind Energy

It is the first interagency plan for offshore wind energy. The departments of Interior and Energy are ready to provide $50 million for research and development to jump-start offshore wind energy projects in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and New Jersey. The Baltimore Business Journal reports the government could begin leasing sites off the mid-Atlantic coast by the end of this year or early next. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and Energy Secretary Steven Chu say the National Offshore Wind Strategy could power nearly three million households by 2020. But they have to overcome some serious hurdles -- like lack of site data, the high cost, and technical challenges.