Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

The Biden administration unveiled a suite of clean energy initiatives across numerous agencies Wednesday, including holding its first auction for offshore wind leases in the waters off of blue states New York and New Jersey and a new push for a faster transmission buildout using funds from the bipartisan infrastructure package. Agencies will also work together to better coordinate on deploying clean energy on public lands with a memorandum of understanding between departments of the Interior, Agriculture, Defense, Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The multi-departmental push comes as Democrats’ reconciliation package remains stalled on the Hill. Climate advocates and lawmakers insist executive action won’t be enough to reach the administration’s clean energy and emission reduction goals, and that the $555 billion in climate funding is an indispensable piece of the pie.

Still, clean energy industry groups heralded Wednesday’s announcements as important steps. The offshore wind lease sales in the New York Bight, reported by Pro’s Kelsey Tamborrino on Tuesday, would be a major boost for the U.S.’ fledgling offshore wind industry, industry backers say. The Energy Department also released a reportoutlining areas for growth and job potential with offshore wind.