As part of President Obama’s all-out, all-of-the-above approach to developing every domestic energy resource, Energy Secretary Steven Chu yesterday announced the start of an ambitious initiative to capture the potential of wind energy off American coasts.

As part of a planned six-year $180 million initiative, an initial $20 million will be available this year as the first step in supporting up to four innovative offshore wind energy installations across the United States. These offshore wind projects will accelerate the deployment of breakthrough wind power technologies that will help diversify our nation’s energy portfolio, promote economic development and launch a new industry here in America.