Introduction - Structural Integrity of Offshore Wind Turbines - page 10

offshore wind energy will require not only that turbines operate with
low risk to human health and the environment but also that they prove
highly reliable (to avoid negative perceptions of the industry) and become
economically competitive with other sources of electricity. The com-
mittee sees performance-based oversight as the regulatory model most
compatible with fostering innovation, which it views as key in devel-
oping a viable U.S. industry and bringing down the cost of electricity
generated from offshore wind.
During its work, the committee was cognizant of the rapid pace at
which offshore wind projects were being proposed for specific sites and
of the work in several states to develop regulatory structures for projects
in state waters. It recognized the need for the federal government to spec-
ify, fairly soon, how it will evaluate the acceptability of proposed projects
for the OCS, so that project developers will have sufficient information
to move their projects forward and to attract the necessary financing.
The committee also noted that, although BOEMRE is concerned with
projects outside of state waters, federal guidance would also be of help to
states as they develop their criteria for approving projects in state waters.
In recognition of BOEMRE's need to act quickly in specifying the
requirements that proposed projects on the OCS must meet, the com-
mittee has set out interim measures that could be implemented soon as
well as options for longer-term approaches to oversight.
In carrying out its charge, the committee met three times. At its first
two meetings, it received briefings on the development of standards for
offshore wind energy in Europe and on current industry efforts to develop
consensus standards for the United States. Representatives from non-
governmental organizations, industry associations, and one state pro-
vided perspectives from stakeholders on the development of offshore
wind energy. The committee was also able to take advantage of an NRC
workshop on offshore wind energy that was held on March 25-26, 2010. 10
ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
Box 1-3 provides definitions for some key concepts that are used exten-
sively in Chapters 3 and 4. Chapter 2 provides a brief overview of the
motivation for the United States in developing offshore wind energy. It
10 See http://www.trb.org/MarineBoard/MarineBoard.aspx.