Maritime News

Texas to Build First US Offshore Wind Farm: Seamen Stand to Make Money

Posted on Oct 09, 2011

Offshore wind farms could be the next opportunity for Gulf Coast seamen. Taking advantage of Massachusetts' foot dragging on their wind farm project, Texas has rushed to the lead in this new technology.

Baryonyx Corp. of Houston has applied to begin development of the nation's first offshore wind farm with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The proposal is to install as many as 200 wind turbines on 26,000 acres near Corpus Christi. Developers are waiting for the go ahead on that location from the Navy, which operates a Naval Air Station in the area. If that site proves to be a problem, a second site off Padre Island is proposed.

What does all this mean to Louisiana seamen? Probably jobs and money. If Texas proves the merits of offshore wind energy to other Gulf Coast states, they would most likely follow. In fact, the Bureau of Ocean Energy, Management, Regulations and Enforcement (BOEMRE) is already conducting a study to determine the safety for workers employed building, repairing and maintaining wind farms. In some ways, the work would be similar to the oilrig industry, making it an easy transition for seamen trained for those jobs.

While still waiting for a Purchasing Power Agreement from local utility companies, the first US offshore wind farm construction could begin by late 2011 in the Gulf.

Whatever your current maritime job is, The Young Firm in New Orleans has been representing seamen like you for over 50 years. If you have any questions about an injury or Jones Act law, please call us today toll free at (866) 938-6113, or fill out the form on this website to receive your free injury toolkit.