American offshore wind is on the verge of a breakthrough. While the industry has been stuck in regulatory purgatory for much of this century, the recent approval of the Vineyard Wind project, America’s first major offshore wind farm, is set to change that. The next decade will be crucial for the success of the industry, and in turn, the United States’s efforts to fight climate change. Despite a slow start and a number of hurdles to tackle, the U.S. could be a world leader in this arena.
The U.S. currently has a total of seven offshore turbines in operation compared to 66,000 onshore turbines. Vineyard Wind will add 84 offshore turbines, and future projects this decade could add up to 2,000. However, it’s not as simple as just plunking turbines in the ocean. There are a number of roadblocks along the way, and addressing them well is critical for the U.S. to take the lead in offshore wind.
One oft-discussed factor is the safety of birds. The National Audubon Society and other wildlife advocacy groups support offshore wind, as turbines are far less dangerous than climate change. While turbines are estimated to kill 145,000 birds each year, 600 million die by flying into windows and 214.5 million by cars, yet no one proposes getting rid of those. Innovative tech, such as bird deterrent devices and AI-powered robots that scan for birds, has also reduced deaths in recent years, and continued innovation will further alleviate this issue.
Some wind lease areas overlap with fishing areas, creating conflict between fishers and regulators. While not necessarily opposed to offshore wind altogether, fishers have long felt squeezed by strict environmental regulations. The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, a coalition of fishing industry members, boycotted a recent Bureau of Ocean Energy Management meeting, arguing the current permitting process didn’t give them a voice. In the case of the Vineyard Wind project, fishing groups and wind developers were able to broker compromises on issues such as turbine spacing, allowing for the project to move forward. As more projects enter development, it will be increasingly important for the BOEM to work with local industries to ensure they have a voice.
Local opposition was one of many factors that thwarted the doomed Cape Wind, but other projects have learned from that fiasco to work more effectively with local stakeholders. Block Island Wind Farm, the country’s first offshore wind farm, has received mixed but largely positive feedback from locals and will continue to be an important marker of how wind affects local communities. The vast majority of new turbines will not be visible from shore, with many only viewable in certain weather conditions, alleviating concerns about oceanfront views. Working with, rather than against, local communities will be crucial to the industry’s success.
If the industry can work past these and other hurdles, its success will play a large role in fighting climate change. Current commitments alone from a handful of East Coast states will power about 20 million homes by 2035, to say nothing of future projects on the West Coast and elsewhere. We’ve currently allowed Europe to have a head start on offshore development, and we rely on the continent for turbine and ship production.
However, domestic innovation and investment can turn the tables and allow the U.S. to become a world leader in building and exporting this technology. A growing domestic industry will lead to increased competition, efficiency, and innovation, as well as the development of a large, skilled workforce. Europe and China have ambitious goals for offshore wind, and the U.S. should capitalize on the moment to become the global leader in developing and deploying this technology. There are many reasons for optimism, but it will be important for regulators and the Biden administration to work closely with local stakeholders on these projects to power the clean energy future President Joe Biden has promised.
Allie McCandless is the eastern regional coordinator for the American Conservation Coalition. She is based in New Jersey.
