The delay results from Congress' decision last month to eliminate most new funding for two loan guarantee programs used to finance renewable energy projects. That move was part of a compromise that averted a government shutdown.
The delay results from Congress' decision last month to eliminate most new funding for two loan guarantee programs used to finance renewable energy projects. That move was part of a compromise that averted a government shutdown.
NRG Bluewater Wind is delaying construction of a meteorological tower off Delaware's coast, saying its planned offshore wind farm is endangered by cuts in federal support for renewable energy.
Some interpreted NRG's statement as a sign the firm's commitment to build the wind farm is wavering, although company officials said the move to delay erecting the tower to gather weather data is just a slowdown.
The planned wind farm would put 49 to 150 turbines about 13 miles off the Delaware coast to generate up to 200 megawatts of electricity. Bluewater is under contract with Delmarva Power to begin producing power by 2016.
The delay results from Congress' decision …
... more [truncated due to possible copyright]NRG Bluewater Wind is delaying construction of a meteorological tower off Delaware's coast, saying its planned offshore wind farm is endangered by cuts in federal support for renewable energy.
Some interpreted NRG's statement as a sign the firm's commitment to build the wind farm is wavering, although company officials said the move to delay erecting the tower to gather weather data is just a slowdown.
The planned wind farm would put 49 to 150 turbines about 13 miles off the Delaware coast to generate up to 200 megawatts of electricity. Bluewater is under contract with Delmarva Power to begin producing power by 2016.
The delay results from Congress' decision last month to eliminate most new funding for two loan guarantee programs used to finance renewable energy projects. That move was part of a compromise that averted a government shutdown.
Congress also has left uncertain the fate of renewable energy credits important to making electricity from wind or solar projects competitive with power from fossil fuels like coal or natural gas.
Those federal actions have "injected considerable uncertainty into the financing for and viability of all U.S. offshore wind projects," Dave Gaier, NRG spokesman, said in an email to The News Journal.
"But we remain committed to the project and are just slowing down our momentum until we have a clearer picture of the future," Gaier wrote.
Gov. Jack Markell said it would be unwise to spend years waiting for the political climate to improve, noting the state has worked hard to smooth Bluewater's path to construction.
"The announcement puts the project's future into question," Markell said. "If they think they can't build it without the guarantee, then it makes sense to see who might."
A long road
It's been nearly three years since Bluewater Wind signed a 25-year contract with Delmarva Power to provide enough electricity to power about 54,000 homes. The contract was hard-fought, and was the first for offshore wind power in the United States. It positioned Delaware to be among the first states to have a wind farm off its shores.