From Florida to Maine, out to 600′ of sea depth, the wind resource equals 965 to 1372 annual TeraWatt-hours, using 40 percent capacity factor turbines. According to a new Stamford University report that’s enough to fully meet the East Coast’s demand for electricity, or 1/3 of U.S. demand. Except in summer, when solar systems can easily pick up the slack, peak-time power demand for Virginia to Maine could be satisfied with wind energy harnessed nearby offshore.

The East Coast offers a plentiful wind resource: sea and land breezes that vary hourly, mid-latitude cyclones that last several days, and major patterns like El Niño, which occur on a multiyear scale. The coastal region north of Virginia has its nor’easters from November to April. Developing mid-latitude storms traverse the continental US, strengthen near the East Coast, then travel northbound, paralleling it. In winter and spring, tropical air to the east collides with polar air to the west producing temperature gradients, which can spawn nor’easters with strong winds along the Atlantic coast. A fast-moving surface low from central Canada that crosses the Appalachian Mountains may also create strong winds.

Unlike their European counterparts, offshore wind farms along the U.S. East Coast are vulnerable to powerful hurricanes from June to November. Because hurricane intensity depends on warm water and evaporating moisture, hurricanes are less likely to remain strong over the cooler waters of the northeast. The practical implication of hurricane risk for offshore wind farms is the inability to obtain insurance, since maximum design wind speeds would be exceeded in a major hurricane. This eliminates southern regions from consideration.

The soil, slope and depth of the seabed, and the force- and fatigueloading from wind-sea interactions, including waves and currents, determine the type of turbine foundation used.

Offshore wind farms must avoid competing with commercial, recreational, military and environmental uses, like shipping lanes, waste and explosives sites, avian flyways, military and visual exclusion zones. With a visual exclusion zone of 9 miles from shore included, 34 percent of regions up to 75′ deep and 69 percent of regions between 76′ and 150′ deep are available for wind farms. The New England continental shelf with depths up to 150′ extends 50 miles. This shallow water, combined with an exceptional wind resource, a large coastal population, an aging and congested land-based grid, only moderate severe-hurricane risk and high electricity prices, makes this an ideal location for large offshore wind-farms.

Fall, winter and springtime winds are well matched to the East Coast’s three-season peak demand. Winds associated with cold fronts could help power the resulting heating loads, alleviating natural gas shortages for power generation caused by supplies being diverted to space heating. Solar power can easily match cooling-dominated summer peak loads. Maine has more than enough wind and 1/3 more solar energy than Germany, a world leader in utilizing both.

High cost Maine electricity? Around the world wind-generated electricity already costs less than fossil or nuclear generated power. Square that with sabotaging Maine’s deal with wind energy leader Statoil.

PAUL KANDO is a founding member of the Midcoast Green Collaborative. He lives in Damariscotta.