As the Policymic news site writes, North Carolina’s innovative legislative proposal, presented in 2011, can be a useful policy model for how the other states could encourage offshore wind development. Governments from states with strong offshore wind potential should send out competitive requests for proposals on development of utility-scale offshore wind energy.
The Offshore Wind Jobs and Economic Development Act, North Carolina’s Senate Bill 747, proposed a state-managed competitive request for proposals process to develop 2,500 MW of offshore wind energy starting in 2017.
Investor-owned utilities would be required to sign 20-year contracts to purchase power, in case the state determines that an industry bid has a positive net economic impact. If the state determines that 2,500 MW of offshore wind energy would not result in a net economic benefit, then there would be no obligation to grant a contract.
To boost the industry support, the Senate Bill also gives companies the option to co-invest or purchase an ownership interest of up to 50 percent in the projects.
Those states which have significant coastal wind resources should embrace this policy framework to develop offshore wind energy.
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Offshore WIND staff, May 17, 2012