Floating wind farm cleared for Oregon coast

By: Gosia Wozniacka
Associated Press

PORTLAND – A Seattle company is being given the green light to develop plans to build the West Coast’s first offshore wind energy farm – five floating turbines off Oregon’s Coos Bay, federal and state officials said Wednesday.

The 30-megawatt pilot project was announced at a press conference by Gov. John Kitzhaber, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Tommy Beaudreau.

Though offshore wind farms are an expensive source of energy, proponents say they could bring clean, efficient electricity, create new jobs and stimulate the economy.

“It’s not going to be economic out of the gate,” Beaudreau said. But “it’s important for Oregon to be on the edge of what could be a huge industry in the future.” Read more