UCLA Journal of Environmental Law and Policy

In the past several years, offshore wind developments have increased across Europe, Asia, and the Eastern United States.  This Comment analyzes the policy tools that East Coast states use to promote offshore wind development and to help overcome the economic, environmental, and land use barriers to offshore wind.  The Comment analyzes policy tools, including (1) establishing an aggressive state Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS), (2) passing procurement mandates for certain level of offshore wind development, and (3) funding investment in infrastructure, education, and research and development.  Lastly, the Comment analyzes Oregon’s energy sector and applies the lessons from the East Coast state policy tools to make recommendations for policy actions that Oregon could adopt to promote offshore wind development.