Fishing industry worries Biden offshore wind effort will cost jobs
By Rachel Frazin - 10/15/21 06:00 AM EDT
The Biden administration’s push to expand offshore wind development is pitting advocates for commercial fishing against the renewable energy industry.
The former is concerned about potential disruptions to their business, while the latter is enthusiastic about the jobs for their industry and climate benefits that will come from expanded offshore wind.
This week, Interior Secretary Deb Haaland highlighted the Biden administration’s commitment to expanding the industry.
The administration laid out a timeline for wind lease sales off the coasts of New York, the Carolinas, Oregon and California, as well as in the Gulf of Mexico, the Gulf of Maine and in the Central Atlantic.
The soonest lease sale, in New York, could happen during the first quarter of 2022, while the furthest away could happen around 2024 in Maine.
“We have big goals to achieve a clean energy economy and Interior is meeting the moment,” Haaland said during an industry conference on Wednesday, touting both potential climate and jobs benefits from the burgeoning industry.
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https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/576859-fishing-industry-worries-administrations-offshore-wind-effort-will