Environmental Impact
“Americans want healthy, safe, and vibrant communities, and offshore wind can play a pivotal role in achieving this sustainable future.”
Americans want healthy, safe, and vibrant communities, and offshore wind can play a pivotal role in achieving this sustainable future. Offshore wind farms significantly improve local air and water quality by reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions: Offshore wind energy is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As wind turbines harness the vast, renewable power of ocean winds, they generate clean electricity without releasing carbon dioxide or other harmful pollutants. By replacing coal, oil, and natural gas, offshore wind farms significantly reduce the carbon footprint of our energy consumption.
Improved air and water quality: Unlike coal or natural gas power plants, wind turbines generate electricity without emitting harmful pollutants like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. By replacing these conventional energy sources, offshore wind farms contribute to cleaner air in coastal communities and reduce the risks of respiratory illnesses and acid rain.
Wind energy is the second-most used renewable energy source in the world and will be integral to meeting global carbon emission targets set by The Paris Agreement, which established a goal of holding “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels” and pursue efforts “to limit the temperature increase to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.”
Maryland and Delaware residents are facing increased flooding. Harnessing renewable energy for electricity generation in the region can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the environmental changes leading to extreme weather. This will lower the risks of severe flooding and saltwater intrusion on the Eastern Shore, which can deposit harmful sodium, devastating crop growth and destroying local farms.
Marine Life & Wildlife Impact
“There are no links whatsoever between the offshore wind development activity and especially the humpback whale mortalities. None. Zero. ”
Research confirms that offshore wind energy helps combat climate change, and poses minimal risk to birds and whales.
Climate change is the most significant threat to marine life and wildlife. Offshore wind energy presents a solution to combat this environmental challenge.
Birds: While wind turbines kill about 4 to 18 birds per year, research suggests that house cats cause far more bird deaths in the United States, as do buildings and cars. Simple solutions—such as painting the turbine blades black—can also help reduce fatalities.
Whales: Research shows no connection between offshore wind development activities and whale mortalities. Climate change is likely affecting whale migration patterns and feeding grounds, forcing them to migrate along different paths and possibly making them cross major shipping lanes. The largest share of identifiable causes of death—40 percent—are fatal ship-strike injuries and fishing net entanglement.
The offshore wind project off of the Maryland and Delaware coast plans to protect birds, marine life and wildlife before, during, and after construction.
Recreational Fisheries Impact
“Any potential fishery losses resulting from wind energy development will be quite small compared with those that will occur as a result of climate change.”
Climate change is expected to adversely impact approximately half of 82 species of fish and invertebrates studied and many species are already changing their distribution in response to warming waters.
In addition, research has found that offshore wind turbines can act as artificial reefs that attract fish, potentially helping the fishing industry.
Any potential fishery losses resulting from wind energy development will be quite small compared with those that will occur as a result of climate change, further emphasizing the need for a clean energy transition.
This video features never-before-seen underwater footage of fish feeding at America’s first offshore wind farm, as well as testimonials from local recreational fishermen and charter captains.