Offshore Wind Energy: Prospects for Florida and the Gulf of Mexico

Recent events (Deepwater Horizon, Massey Mine, Dimock PA, Kalamazoo River), IPCC global climate change projections, energy security concerns, and public health issues all point to a massive shift towards a diverse, renewables-based, energy strategy that will be accomplished over several decades. Offshore wind power is an important component of a future renewable energy portfolio but the offshore wind resources for Florida, Alabama, and Mississippi are missing from the latest maps issued by the Department of Energy. FSU and NOAA-AOML scientists are beginning to explore this resource. This presentation will discuss preliminary indications of the offshore wind energy resource for Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, and research needed to support the development of a sustainable offshore wind energy industry in the U.S.