The American Clean Power Association (ACPA) and several offshore wind industry members addressed a letter to Congress requesting the Maritime Administration’s Port Infrastructure Development Program’s budget be increased to $750 million in the FY 2022 infrastructure appropriations bill. The letter cites President Joe Biden’s clean energy goals and coastal states’ goal of nearly 30 GW of offshore wind procurement.
More than 9,100 MW of offshore wind has already been contracted, according to the letter, and a report published by the American Wind Energy Association predicts that the emerging U.S. wind industry could support up to 45,000 jobs in the next five years.
“To be able to meet the president’s clean energy goals, achieve local economic development and create new offshore wind construction and operations jobs, significant port infrastructure is needed,” the letter reads.
The letter is concerned with funding to create port infrastructure in the states where lease sales have been held for offshore wind development.
“In order to achieve the abundant economic and environmental benefits from offshore wind, Congress must ensure that ports have access to capital to build offshore wind port infrastructure,” the letter reads.
The letter is signed by members from the ACPA, The American Waterways Operators, American Association of Port Authorities, National Ocean Industries Association, Dredging Contractors of America and the Business Network for Offshore Wind.
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