Google-backed Offshore Wind Power Superhighway Moves Forward

The Google-backed Atlantic offshore superhighway (of transmission lines) for wind power that we’ve written about several times now has just moved another step forward.

The Department of the Interior stated on Monday that there was “no overlapping competitive interest” for the areas where the $5-billion project would be constructed. This decision leads us to the next step in the process — environmental review of the Atlantic Wind Connection line.

But the project is still a little ways from breaking any ground.

The environmental review could take up to 18-24 months, and there are other items awaiting approval as well. “The project faces regional and federal regulatory hurdles which backers hope to clear within two years so it can nail down financial agreements and start transmitting power by the end of 2017,” Reuters notes.

Other than Google, companies funding the project include Good Energies and Japan’s Marubeni Corp.

Of course, the Atlantic also needs to get its first offshore wind farm fully approved and built to make use of this transmission superhighway.

Source: Reuters
Image Credit: Google