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Commentary: An issue of transparency
“If critics want to expose a lack of transparency and misleading information, they should look to the offshore wind industry. Companies with nothing to hide would welcome the chance to explain the risks and would release the recordings afterward.”
Commentary: NIMBY
“Realistically, it should be NIOBY—not in OUR back yard. The industrialization of our coastal waters will affect millions of people–including the 20 million who visit RI’s public beaches each year—not just the few residents who are fortunate enough to own shorefront property.”
Commentary: Will offshore wind help our problem with sea-level rise?
The BOEM knows that offshore wind developments alter critial ocean dynamics. A report requested by the BOEM states that offshore wind developments, off the coast of RI and MA, will extract kinetic energy from the wind (thus reducing wind speeds), will decrease wave heights and slow ocean currents which actually contributes to sea level rise in the North East.
Whales and Empathy
Whales and dolphins are deeply connected to human empathy and self-awareness, with their ability to perform heroic acts, like rescuing humans, showcasing their intelligence and capacity for empathy. However, the rise of offshore wind farms has raised concerns about their impact on marine life, with evidence suggesting that surveys and construction activities could be contributing to the deaths of protected species, including whales, through disturbances and physical harm. The dilemma is whether the push for renewable energy, aimed at combating climate change, is unintentionally creating a biodiversity crisis, and whether we should reconsider our approach to balancing environmental protection with technological progress.
Will the offshore wind projects help combat climate change?
Offshore wind turbines can generate significant electricity but are intermittent, requiring fossil fuel generators to stabilize the grid, which increases their carbon emissions due to inefficient operation. Real-world data from Rhode Island shows that adding wind power to the grid has led to higher CO2 emissions, and developers acknowledge that offshore wind projects are unlikely to reduce global warming or combat climate change, with their primary goal being to meet renewable energy mandates.
Commentary: Think twice before short-circuiting environmental protection laws
While most citizens support urgent action on climate change, the current plan to industrialize large parts of the Atlantic Ocean with offshore wind turbines fails to align with President Biden's executive order, which emphasizes biodiversity protection and environmental justice. The approval of offshore wind projects by federal agencies, including allowing harm to endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale, undermines vital environmental protections and risks long-term ecological damage, defying the executive order's goal of addressing climate change without sacrificing biodiversity.
Commentary: Whales are dying–is there a link to offshore wind?
The recent surge in whale deaths along the Atlantic coast, coinciding with offshore wind surveys, raises concerns about a potential link. Yet, NOAA and wind companies are reluctant to investigate or acknowledge the possible impact of these activities. Despite the legal protections for marine mammals, offshore wind companies continue to request permits for actions that could harm thousands of marine species, while key agencies fail to release critical data, leaving the public in the dark about the full scope of the issue.
Commentary: Questioning the Wisdom of Offshore Wind
“Desperate times often require desperate measures, but large-scale, unproven, and invasive measures, often cause unforeseen harm. The ocean’s finite and irreplaceable resources can disappear. Wind can dissipate. Once destroyed, uniquely productive habitats and breeding grounds that sustain life on earth may not return.”