A Framework for Offshore Wind Development

On September 30, 2005, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, the US Department of Energy and General Electric announced release of a report, entitled A Framework For Offshore Wind Development in the United States. (click on title of report to access).   The 34 page report is the product of several collaborative meetings between the report’s sponsors and stakeholders from the environmental, regulatory and marine industries.  The Framework lawys out challenges and strategies for addressing them in five primary areas: (1) technology development; (2) environmental compatibility; (3)economic and financial viability; (4) regulation and government policies and (5) leadership coordination.  Though the Framework does not address ocean energy technologies, some of the matters discussed are equally applicable.