Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary Salazar Travel to Delaware to Underscore Renewable Energy Potential on Outer Continental Shelf

Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) today visited the University of Delaware, where they underscored the importance of alternative energy development on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS), especially offshore wind resources for Delaware and other Atlantic coastal states. On Earth Day, President Obama announced that Interior had finalized a long-awaited framework for renewable energy production on the OCS.

Delaware and other Atlantic coast states encourage and support the development of offshore wind energy. The Delaware legislature now requires that 20% of the Delaware's electricity come from renewable sources by the year 2019 and Delmarva Power has signed a 25-year power purchase agreement with Bluewater Wind to sell the utility up to 200 megawatts of power from an offshore wind facility on the OCS.

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    Interior Secretary Salazar talks about the potential of alternative energy development on the Atlantic's Outer Continental Shelf. To the Secretary's right is Delaware Senator Tom Carper. (Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann DOI)

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    Interior Secretary Salazar and Vice President Joe Biden during their visit to the University of Delaware. (Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann DOI)

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    Left to right: Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary Salazar, Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Senator Tom Carper, Congressman Michael Castle and University of Delaware President Dr. Patrick Harker. (Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann DOI)

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    Interior Secretary Salazar with Vice President Joe Biden and Interior Chief of Staff Tom Strickland at the University of Delaware. (Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann DOI)

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    Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary Salazar enter Memorial Hall at the University of Delaware, V.P. Biden's alma mater, to discuss develop of alternative energy resources off the Atlantic Coast Outer Continental Shelf. (Photo Credit: Tami Heilemann DOI)

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