Offshore wind turbines could be coming to Oregon coast
COOS BAY, Ore. — Offshore wind turbines could be coming to the Oregon coast.
A company called RWE visited locations from Reedsport to Port Orford to determine potential locations for an offshore wind facility.
Such a project would bring more jobs and possibly revenue from exporting renewable energy.
"We look at it like an expansion of the natural resources economy,” says Rick Osborn, senior advisor with Ocean Winds. “I mean, what's more abundant on the south coast than wind? So why not be able to harness that into an energy source and find a way to do it that works with the other industries that are here."
If any project is approved, Osborn says it could take 3 to 5 years for this to become reality.
REW estimates this would provide about 74 different career paths with multiple jobs in each area.
The wind turbines would be located 20 miles off the coast.
A task force from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will discuss the idea on October 21.
That same group has given the Port of Coos Bay money to study offshore wind development.
