The Biden administration is reportedly poised to officially approve a large offshore wind farm project off the coast of Rhode Island, as reported by The Washington Post.
This development, set to be located 15 nautical miles off the Point Judith coast, will consist of 65 turbines. It will be the fourth commercial wind project greenlit by the Biden administration along the East Coast.
Concerns have been raised about the potential environmental impact of offshore wind farms on marine life, particularly whales.
Although there is no proven causal link between offshore wind construction and harm to whales, there have been “unusual mortality events” declared for humpback whales and North Atlantic right whales by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) since around the start of East Coast offshore wind development in 2016 and 2017 respectively.
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This timeline has led to suspicions that there could be a connection, though it’s yet to be definitively proven.
Over the past several years, there has been an increase in the number of whale strandings and deaths on the East Coast, including humpback whales. These occurrences have prompted ecological concerns and further research into the potential impact of offshore wind farms on marine life.
The Biden administration’s push for offshore wind energy is a central component of its efforts to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions in the American energy sector by 2035 and to make the overall U.S. economy carbon-neutral by 2050.
The administration has set a goal for offshore wind to generate 30 gigawatts of energy by 2030, enough to power around 10 million homes annually.
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The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is conducting an inquiry into the potential ecological, logistical, navigational, and military impacts of offshore wind farms.
Additionally, financial challenges have been reported for developers and firms involved in other East Coast offshore wind projects, including inflation, rising interest rates, and supply chain disruptions that have driven up costs and made projects less economically appealing.
“The project’s approval underscores the administration’s commitment to promoting domestic energy production and fighting climate change, while promoting economic growth and fostering environmental stewardship within coastal communities,” BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein said to WaPo.
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