Salazar, Atlantic govs boost wind energy cooperation

“Hopefully we will have something to move forward with in 30 days,” Salazar said.

“Our view is that working together with states, we can do more to stand up the offshore wind industry and create jobs here in this country and create clean energy,” he said.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Energy Department and the Defense Department will also be involved, he said.

Salazar said developing offshore wind is getting more attention under the Obama administration than it did under President George W. Bush. “It had not been a priority,” he said. “It is a priority now.”

Companies are already planning projects off the coasts of several Atlantic states. Interior, in a report last year, said the most promising offshore wind resources could meet 20 percent of coastal states’ power needs, and overall wind potential is far greater still.