The potential for offshore wind power along the Atlantic Coast has moved closer to reality in fits and starts. Recent leases, however, indicate what the future of the industry could looks like.
"Two energy firms will spend more than $1.8 million to potentially develop wind farms in federal waters off the coast of New Jersey," reports Devin Henry.
"The companies — RES America Developments and U.S. Wind Inc.— won the rights in a lease auction on Monday. Combined, the firms bought up leases for nearly 344,000 acres of space, the Department of Interior announced."
The 344,000 acres is located seven miles of the coast of New Jersey, extending about 21 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell is quoted in the article describing the auction as the first step toward a "sustainable offshore wind program" for communities located on the Atlantic Coast.
Following that news, came an announcement this week that Denmark-based DONG Energy A/S, "is proposing what could be North America’s largest offshore wind farm 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard…" Jay Fitzgerald reports on that proposal, noting that the plans for 100 wind turbines would more than double the output of the Cape Wind project, which is stalled after a financial setback in January 2015.
DONG has already acquired the lease for the area—one of the offshore stretches approved by the federal government for offshore wind power generation. The next steps in approval, along with construction, are expected to require patience. According to Fitzgerald, "DONG Energy faces lengthy Massachusetts and US permitting processes that include environmental reviews and approvals for where its power lines would come ashore. Once those approvals are in hand, DONG Energy said, it would take about three years to build the wind farm, and the first phase could include 30 to 35 turbines and be in service by early next decade."
FULL STORY: Feds auction 340,000 acres for offshore wind power

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.

Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.

Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service