In recent weeks, the Department of Energy (DOE) and Google have announced new projects that are intended to spur the development of a United States offshore wind industry.  DOE first announced a new initiative program, the Offshore Wind Innovation and Demonstration Initiative (OSWInD Initiative), to secure the establishment of an offshore wind industry for the United States.  In its draft strategic work plan, "Creating an Offshore Wind Industry in the United States: A Strategic Work Plan for the United States Department of Energy, Fiscal Years 2011-2015" ("Strategic Work Plan"), the DOE sets target goals for 54 gigawatts of deployed offshore wind capacity by 2030 at a cost of 7 to 9 cents per kilowatt hour and an interim target goal of 10 gigawatts at 13 cents per kilowatt hour by 2020.  In order to reduce the costs and timing for the deployment of offshore wind projects, the Strategic Work Plan sets forth three Focus Areas, including Technology Development, Market Barrier Removal and Advanced Technology Demonstration Projects. The Strategic Work Plan further identifies seven major activities to be administered within the Focus Areas including innovative turbines, innovative balance of system, computational tools and test data, resource planning, siting and permitting, complementary infrastructure and advanced technology demonstration projects.  The DOE has requested comments on the Strategic Work Plan by October 29, 2010.
 
On October 6, 2010, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Cape Wind Associates, LLC officially signed our country’s first commercial lease for offshore wind energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS).
 
On October 12, 2010, Google announced on its blog that it was going to be investing (along with other investors) in an offshore wind transmission project referred to as the Atlantic Wind Connection (AWC). The AWC project would span approximately 350 miles between New Jersey and Virginia and could connect up to 6,000MW of offshore wind turbines for delivery to land based transmission systems and could ultimately serve 1.9 million households.
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Photo of Caleb Holmes Caleb Holmes

Caleb’s practice focuses on complex environmental litigation and environmental compliance. Caleb has represented clients in state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings. In his environmental litigation practice, Caleb often represents corporate clients in cost recovery, contribution and government enforcement actions under Comprehensive

Caleb’s practice focuses on complex environmental litigation and environmental compliance. Caleb has represented clients in state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings. In his environmental litigation practice, Caleb often represents corporate clients in cost recovery, contribution and government enforcement actions under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Caleb has litigated such matters through trial and has also helped clients negotiate and settle matters. He has worked with clients on cases involving a wide variety of contaminants, including but not limited to PCBs, PFAS, and dioxins. Caleb also has broad experience litigating complex commercial litigation, including products liability and mass tort/toxic tort matters. He has a depth of experience with all aspects of discovery, including work with experts, taking and defending depositions, motion practice, trial preparation and settlement negotiation.

Caleb provides practical advice to clients in the acquisition and disposition of businesses and assets and the re-development of brownfield sites. He works with clients to achieve compliance with state-specific voluntary cleanup programs, including Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling Program (Act 2).

Caleb counsels clients on compliance with a broad range of federal and state environmental laws, including RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and a host of other federal and state environmental laws.

In addition to his legal work, Caleb is active in various professional and civic organizations. He is currently serving as the Council’s Secretary for the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Environmental and Energy Law Section.