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Obama/Salazar Decision on Offshore Wind Hailed as 'Biggest Federal Step Forward to Date for Clean Energy' in the U.S.

Posted on: Wednesday, 22 April 2009, 11:21 CDT

Administration's Action Sets the Stage for Major Offshore Wind Projects Up and Down the East Coast

WASHINGTON, April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In the wake of the Earth Day action by President Barack Obama and Interior Department Secretary Ken Salazar on new guidelines clearing the way for major offshore wind projects, the following statement was issued today by Clean Power Now (http://www.CleanPowernow.org) and TheClean.org (http://www.TheClean.org). The nonprofit and nonpartisan Civil Society Institute think tank is a convener of TheClean.org.

The statement issued by Civil Society Institute President and Founder Pam Solo and Clean Power Now Executive Director Barbara J. Hill reads as follows:

"The step announced today by President Obama and Secretary Salazar represents the biggest federal step forward to date for clean energy in the United States. The Administration deserves a great deal of credit for moving ahead to deliver sustainable offshore wind energy for America.

Today's action sets out a clear process for moving ahead with major offshore wind projects up and down the East Coast. This decision paves the way for a new offshore wind energy industry that will transform the discussion about tapping the abundant offshore clean energy.

The Department of Interior and its Minerals Management Service did an exemplary job conducting the regulatory review process that issued the Final Environmental Impact Statement on Cape Wind. Now, it's time for the Obama Administration to take the next step and issue a Record of Decision on Cape Wind as soon as possible so we can begin to move aggressively to exploit the abundant offshore wind energy potential with a shovel ready project.

With support from more than 86 percent of Massachusetts residents and two out of three people living on the Cape and Islands, Cape Wind is indisputably the offshore wind power project that is ready to move forward now. It is time for Cape Wind to be approved so that we can create jobs, increase energy independence, and demonstrate Massachusetts leadership on climate change."

ABOUT THE GROUPS

Clean Power Now (http://www.CleanPowerNow.org) started on Cape Cod in 2003 and has grown to over 12,000 members strong. We are a non-profit grassroots organization informing citizens and empowering them to support viable renewable energy projects and policies, and to secure their local and regional benefits. We believe that the timely development of such projects, in conjunction with energy efficiency and conservation, will bring about a clean, healthy environment, an improved economy and a more secure, sustainable America. Our immediate focus is to increase citizen support of offshore wind power in Nantucket Sound.

The Civil Society Institute has sponsored pioneering work on near-term transitional steps for moving the U.S. toward a new energy economy. These 11 related reports can be found at http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/csiresearch.cfm. In May 2008, CSI sponsored a report by ACEEE on the economic/job-creation benefits of energy efficiency titled "The Size of the U.S. Energy Efficiency Market: Generating a More Complete Picture" (#E083). CSI also has conducted nearly 20 major public opinion surveys on energy policy and climate change related issues, including major polls released in September 2008 (http://www.civilsocietyinstitute.org/media/092508release_national.cfm) and October 2007 (http://theclean.org/post_fossil.html).

SOURCE Civil Society Institute, TheClean.org, and Clean Power Now, Newton, MA

Source: PR Newswire

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