U.S. pushes offshore wind strategy

U.S. President Barack Obama has said he would like the United States to get 80 percent of its electricity from clean and renewable energy sources by 2035.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu joined Interior Secretary Ken Salazar in announcing funding opportunities for as much as $50.5 million to support the offshore wind industry.

"The United States is synchronizing new research and development initiatives with more efficient, forward-thinking planning so that we can help quickly stand up an American offshore wind industry," said Salazar in a statement.

Salazar said there were several offshore areas along the eastern U.S. coast that could prove advantageous for the U.S. wind strategy. His Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement is looking at the proposed region and could start issuing leases by the end of the year.

The Department of Energy said it was setting a target of 10 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2020 and 54 gigawatts by 2030.

"Offshore wind energy can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, diversify our energy supply and stimulate economic revitalization," Chu said in a statement.

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