Biden Administration , Looking to Offshore Wind , to Meet Climate Goals.
Biden Administration , Looking to Offshore Wind , to Meet Climate Goals.
NPR reports that the United States is working to meet its climate goals under the Paris climate agreement by reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
However, the energy sector remains one of the top contributors to U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 25% of the nation's total emissions.
The Biden administration is reportedly looking to significantly reduce this number by building offshore wind infrastructure along U.S. coasts.
The Biden administration is reportedly looking to significantly reduce this number by building offshore wind infrastructure along U.S. coasts.
The administration's goal is to have 30 gigawatts of offshore wind online by 2030.
To meet that ambitious goal, thousands of new jobs need to be created, particularly in the construction sector.
NPR reports that offshore wind has supplied energy to Europe and Asia for years, however it remains a relatively nascent industry in the U.S. In 2016, the U.S. started operation of its first offshore wind farm more than 25 years after Europe launched its first wind turbines.
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According to a 2021 study, the average compensation for workers in the clean energy sector is significantly lower than it is for those in the fossil fuel industry.
To compensate for this difference, offshore wind is looking to unionize large parts of its workforce.
I think offshore wind energy is poised to support good paying union jobs, middle class wages, we're seeing a lot of positive movement for it, Trevor Falk, Special assistant for energy policy at NABTU, via NPR
