Plans to build a 100-mile subsea cable could spur development of renewable energy, reports the Aol Energy news portal.
If the grid proves that it can take more renewable energy than the currently assumed, it would give a huge boost to offshore wind development along the U.S. East Coast. The proposed system would be able to take as much as a third of power from renewables.
According to its Renewable Portfolio Standard the U.S. is planning to use 25% of electricity from renewables by 2020, and 40% by 2030.
Faced with three times higher electricity prices than the national average, the Hawaiian government has set high goals for use of renewable energy in overall electricity consumption.
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Offshore WIND staff, June 28, 2012; Image: tennet