Offshore Wind in the Gulf of Mexico
ü Public/Private Collaboration
ü Speed of Project Execution
ü Permitting is a Non-Issue
ü Use of Existing Ports & Infrastructure
ü Use of Oil & Gas Expertise
ü State and Local Political Support
Offshore wind is shovel-ready in the Gulf of Mexico
The physical capital within the Gulf region is substantial. The Gulf has:
• Six of the nation’s 10 leading ports and the world’s largest crane
• Offshore expertise and logistics, including crews, barges, tools, docks and maintenance capabilities
• NASA, regionally positioned on the Texas Gulf Coast and capable of providing expertise
• Naval Station Ingleside (NSI), an ideal location for an offshore wind center
The political backing for onshore and offshore wind in Texas is extraordinary.
• Texas’ General Land Office (GLO), the federally approved manager for the 376-mile Texas
coastline, is a leading supporter of offshore wind and the landlord of coastal offshore leasing in
Texas. The innovative GLO leases offer many advantages, including speed of deployment
Geographically, the Gulf Coast is poised for offshore wind energy.
• Corpus Christi, Texas, is already a major port for wind turbine components
• Offshore wind siting opportunities are located close to major load centers
• The Gulf offers a mild climate and, historically, no ice
• Wind blows in the Gulf during peak need, which maximizes profit potential
• Wave data already exists and is available from the Gulf offshore oil and gas industry
• Existing right-of-ways and pipelines can potentially be used for electrical transmission
• The Gulf Coast is flush with companies in the wind industry that strongly support acceleration
of the offshore wind market opening in the Gulf of Mexico
About The Wind Alliance
The Wind Alliance is a national collaboration of over 50 entities in industry, academia and the public sector. Members of The Wind Alliance work together to solve unsolved problems within the areas of workforce, technology and infrastructure. We are designing and implementing pre-competitive solutions to catapult the industry forward. As our unique organization focuses on project development and execution (we do not lobby or attempt to influence policy), we are complementary to AWEA and other wind organization. www.TheWindAlliance.org |
