NEWS

Salazar: Wind power can replace 3,000 coal plants

04/07/2009

Windmills off the East Coast could generate the same amount of electricity as 3,000 coal-fired power plants, but oil and natural gas drilling will continue to be part of the nation’s energy equation, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said Monday.

The secretary spoke at a public hearing in Atlantic City on how the nation’s offshore areas can be tapped to meet America’s energy needs now that a moratorium on offshore oil drilling has expired. A decision on whether to allow drilling for oil and gas off the East Coast still has to be made.

"We know there are some people who want us to close the door on that," he said. "We need to look at all forms of energy as we move forward into a new energy frontier."