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What are the potential environmental impacts of the proposed Humboldt offshore wind project?

All forms of energy production have associated environmental impacts, and offshore wind energy is no different. For all environmental impacts, our goal is to avoid, minimize, and mitigate (AMM) them to the extent possible: first by fully understanding them, and then by advocating for avoiding project impacts, minimizing impacts that may occur, and mitigating impacts that do occur — in that order. Compared to traditional fossil fuel-powered forms of energy production, offshore wind produces far fewer carbon emissions and air pollution; however, there are still other potential environmental impacts at different stages of construction and operation.​​​​

Chart of commonly cited environmental concerns about offshore wind energy in Humboldt County from 2020. "Figure 3. The most commonly cited environmental concerns from offshore wind in Humboldt County among interviewees (n=41). Statements were coded as "general" if they were blanket concerns for the 'environment' as a whole or if they were not specific to one category (e.g. concern about wildlife." / Impacts to Mammals = 25; Impacts to Fish = 23; Impacts to Avian Species = 22; Environmental Impacts (general) = 19; Land-Based/Transmission Impacts = 10.

Commonly cited environmental concerns about offshore wind energy in Humboldt County.

Source: Schatz Energy Research Center, 2020 (1)

The Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium (POWC) (2), a collaboration between the Schatz Energy Research Center at Cal Poly Humboldt, the Pacific Marine Energy Center at Oregon State University, and the Center for Coastal Marine Sciences at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, was launched in May 2024 to enable universities, Tribal Nations, and host communities to design comprehensive research programs and share information and best practices, to help facilitate a collective understanding of the potential and realized environmental impacts of offshore wind energy infrastructure. Explore these studies through the Pacific Coast Offshore Wind Environmental Research Project Finder (3) from the U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER). 


Click here to read more about the potential environmental impacts of floating offshore wind in California (4) from the California Ocean Science Trust in July 2024.​

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In October 2024, the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS) released its West Coast Offshore Wind Energy Strategic Science Plan (5) which identifies potential environmental impacts of West Coast Offshore Wind and the need for more scientific research.
 

Because there are many different potential environmental impacts of offshore wind, this website handles each potential impact as a separate question. Please navigate to the main page and scroll down to view specific questions on environmental impacts. If you have questions about an environmental impact or think we missed one, please reach out to us at northcoastoffshorewind@gmail.com.

References

  1. Schatz Energy Research Center. (2020, September). California North Coast Offshore Wind Studies Stakeholder Benefits and Concerns. https://schatzcenter.org/pubs/2020-OSW-R21.pdf 

  2. The Pacific Offshore Wind Consortium. (2024). https://powc.us/

  3. Tethys Engineering. (2024, January 31). Pacific Coast Offshore Wind Environmental Research Project Finder. https://tethys.pnnl.gov/pacific-coast-offshore-wind-environmental-research-project-finder

  4. California Ocean Science Trust. (2024, July). Understanding Potential Environmental Impacts with Existing Research. www.oceansciencetrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/OST-Science-Factsheet-1-General-Takeways-Final.pdf

  5. United States. National Marine Fisheries Service "NMFS West Coast Offshore Wind Energy Strategic Science Plan" , 2024, https://doi.org/10.25923/5dmm-8z74

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