California’s offshore wind plans are seeing pushback from a local non-profit that warns moving ahead with constructing this renewable energy infrastructure will “harm or kill” local marine life. However, developers of these projects refer to the claims made by those environmental advocacy groups as “misinformation.”
The Golden State is aiming to generate 25 gigawatts of energy from offshore wind by 2045. That would be enough to power 25 million homes and provide around 13% of the state’s electricity needs.
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However, these projects face resistance from the Responsible Energy Adaptation for California’s Transition Alliance (REACT), a nonprofit group arguing that the planned offshore wind projects could harm marine ecosystems.
The organization points to potential aquatic ecosystem disruptions as a result of noise pollution from the equipment used for underwater surveys, which they claim is expected to produce sounds up to 228 decibels, equivalent to the volume of a jet engine.
Offshore wind developers disputed these claims, arguing that while decibel level is high, the frequency and the depth at which these sounds are generated would likely minimize any negative impact on marine life. According to the developers, REACT selectively presented data to fuel opposition against offshore wind.
Meanwhile, commercial fishing groups in central California have also voiced their concerns. Two fishing associations recently filed lawsuits claiming that offshore wind projects would harm fish populations and disrupt commercial fishing. They cite past experiences with underwater surveys that reportedly reduced catch rates for certain fish species by up to 70%.
CALIFORNIA HAS BIG PLANS FOR ITS OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY.
BUT ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES ARE PUSHING BACK-
AS THE DEVELOPERS BEHIND THESE PROJECTS ACCUSE THOSE ADVOCACY GROUPS OF NOT TELLING THE WHOLE TRUTH.
CALIFORNIA WANTS TO PRODUCE 25 GIGAWATTS OF ENERGY FROM OFFSHORE WIND FARMS BY 20-45-
THAT’S ENOUGH TO POWER 25 MILLION HOMES AND PROVIDE ABOUT THIRTEEN PERCENT OF THE STATE’S ELECTRICITY.
HOWEVER, ONE NON-PROFIT GROUP SAYS THESE ACTIONS WILL HARM OR KILL LOCAL MARINE LIFE.
THE RESPONSIBLE ENERGY ADAPTATION FOR CALIFORNIA’S TRANSITION – OR REACT – ALLIANCE IS THE ORGANIZATION PUSHING THESE CLAIMS.
THEY SAY THE EQUIPMENT THAT WILL BE USED TO SURVEY THE AREA FOR OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPMENT IS GOING TO PRODUCE SO MUCH SOUND THAT IT WILL HARM FISH AND MARINE MAMMAL SPECIES IN THESE WATERS.
AT THE PURPORTED 228 DECIBELS OF SOUND THESE MACHINES WILL CREATE, THAT’S IN THE SAME RANGE OF NOISE CREATED BY A JET ENGINE GETTING READY FOR TAKEOFF-
LOUD ENOUGH TO RUPTURE A HUMAN EAR DRUM.
OFFSHORE WIND DEVELOPERS CALL THESE CLAIMS MISINFORMATION-
ACCUSING REACT OF CHERRY PICKING DATA AND ORGANIZING A STRATEGIC EFFORT AGAINST OFFSHORE WIND.
THE ENERGY COMPANIES ARGUE THAT WHILE THE DECIBEL LEVEL IS HIGH, THE FACT THAT IT’S HAPPENING UNDERWATER AND AT A HIGHER FREQUENCY MEANS THE SOUNDS WON’T IMPACT MARINE WILDLIFE.
MEANWHILE, TWO COMMERCIAL FISHING GROUPS IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA ARE ALSO JOINING THE OPPOSITION AGAINST OFFSHORE.
FILING LAWSUITS THAT CLAIM THAT CLEAN ENERGY INITIATIVES WILL DISRUPT MARINE HABITATS AND LEAD TO DECLINES IN FISH POPULATIONS.
THEY ASSERT NOISE FROM SIMILAR UNDERWATER SURVEYS RESULTED IN REDUCED CATCH RATES OF SOME FISH SPECIES BY UP TO SEVENTY PERCENT.
A HEARING ON THAT CASE IS SET FOR THE END OF NOVEMBER-
AS REACT HAS INDICATED IT WILL CONTINUE TO PROTEST AGAINST CALIFORNIA’S ONGOING OFFSHORE WIND PLANS.
TO GET MORE STORIES ABOUT HOW RENEWABLE ENERGY CAN COME INTO CONFLICT WITH ENVIRONMENTAL INTERESTS, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME – JACK AYLMER.
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