WASHINGTON (November 24, 2014) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today praised the Interior Department and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick for their announcement of the largest single offshore wind energy lease sale in history. The more than 1,000 square miles that will be put up for lease twelve miles off the coast of Massachusetts could provide enough energy for more than 1 million homes, and will continue Massachusetts’ clean energy job growth. Senator Markey’s first bill introduced in the Senate would quadruple America’s clean energy production.

 

Below is the statement of Senator Markey, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee and the lead chair of the U.S. Senate Climate Change Clearinghouse:

 

“Massachusetts is the leading light in building America’s clean energy future and this offshore lease sale continues our state’s leadership in the technologies and jobs of today and tomorrow. Clean energy supports tens of thousands of jobs in Massachusetts, and the potential for economic growth is only matched by the benefits for our air, water, and climate.

 

“I commend the Interior Department and Governor Patrick for their work to make this lease sale happen. I will follow this process closely to ensure that this site is developed in a way that will maximize job creation and affordable clean energy production for Massachusetts.”

 

Clean energy jobs in Massachusetts have expanded by nearly 50 percent over the past four years and the sector now supports 88,000 jobs across nearly 6,000 firms.