June 25, 2021 — A new bill backed by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D) would share the revenue from offshore wind development with coastal states like New Hampshire.
The bill proposes new uses for revenue generated by the sale of leases that allow developers to build wind farms in federal waters.
The federal government has sold hundreds of millions in offshore wind leases. Right now, the money goes back to the U.S. Treasury.
This plan would send half of it to states that are adjacent to approved wind projects. They could use the money for coastal resilience and climate change adaptation projects, fisheries research and conservation work.
Most of the remaining revenue would go to a similar existing grant program for coastal and Great Lakes communities.