Senator Carper: Navy Concerns With Off-Shore Wind Power 'Legitimate'
WASHINGTON – A Democratic Senator who supports the widespread implementation of off-shore wind power has stated that issues that naval interests have with off-shore wind power are a "legitimate concern."
Sen. Tom Carper of Delaware said at a Thursday morning event sponsored by the Center for American Progress Action Fund that concerns about off-whore wind turbines have been raised by many professional seamen. "It's a legitimate concern that has been raised in other countries, it's been raised here, it's been raised around the Navy, in merchant-marine, and so forth. And by the Coast Guard, I think they have provided a whole lot of input in so far as location," said Carper.
"The other thing is making sure that whoever is going to be out there making their ways off of our shore in future years that they have the information about the location of these wind mill farms."
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Carper stressed that an important part "is making sure we have the right information about the location and that we update our systems and that we are using correct information."
The Delaware senator's remarks came as part of an event sponsored by the CAP Action Fund regarding the debate over alternative energy sources. Titled "The Economic Case for Offshore Wind in America," the event focused on the investments for off-shore wind power, which was propagated as an important and underutilized source of energy.
"Despite technological advances that have proven commercially viable and wind resources just off our shores that rank among the best in the world, the United States has yet to construct even a single offshore wind turbine," reads a description of the event at the CAP website in part.
"For years, the lack of a regulatory structure, slanted political opposition, and fears that offshore wind energy would prove too expensive have prevented development of this clean, abundant resource."
Neera Tanden, president and CEO of the Center for American Progress and to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, gave the opening remarks. "We all know America must transition toward clean renewable energy. Both to address global climate change as well as to create American jobs," said Tanden.
"Looking ahead, one of the most abundant and commercially viable sources of renewable energy is offshore wind."
Carper made a speech before those gathered at the CAP office, and then went to a Q&A section with Tom Perriello, president and Chief Executive Officer of Center for American Progress Action Fund, before going into a general Q&A.
According to the political website "On The Issues," in the past, Carper has voted in favor of spending resources to combat climate change, removing oil & gas exploration subsidies, and placing a ban on drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
