Secretary began a four-city tour this week to discuss ideas for harnessing the energy potential of offshore areas. He has made broad claims regarding resources offshore such as windpower off the coasts can produce the energy of 3,000 coal-fired plants as he boasts about offshore’s energy potential.
He is likely to face resistance in opening up more areas to development, whether that be for maritime agriculture or for offshore drilling. A new plan, which will likely come out later this year, will address both issues. This roadshow is part sales job, part temperature check. He needs to show that he has listened to the American public, but he is also checking into specific resistance in changes in policy.
The rub is, we need new energy sources, and if it doesn’t come from offshore, than it must come from onshore or abroad. And those sources often pose far greater challenges.
