Taking the ocean into account is critical for successfully addressing climate change, and addressing climate change is critical for the future of the ocean
Offshore wind, while providing a critical overall benefit to the marine environment by reducing carbon dioxide emissions, like any major infrastructure project may also result in negative impacts. Maximizing the benefits and minimizing the impacts of offshore wind expansion requires responsible and equitable implementation, working to protect ocean health, sharing ocean data and ensuring the inclusion of ocean users, communities and other partners, as well as meaningful consultation with Tribes. To achieve this, Ocean Conservancy advocates for offshore wind planning, siting and permitting policies that will support a more sustainable and efficient expansion of offshore wind through thoughtful legislation and common-sense regulations and policies.
In addition to advocating for federal policies that strengthen responsible offshore wind planning, siting and permitting, we are fighting to secure crucial resources and investment. This includes working to support federal investment in permitting agencies charged with advancing responsible offshore wind, including the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and advocating for research and technology development (such as at the Department of Energy) that would reduce the impacts offshore wind could have on the marine environment. We identify and help secure resources to support robust engagement with ocean users, communities and Tribes; federal agency staff capacity and robust science to sufficiently review offshore wind leasing and permitting decisions; critical research and monitoring to better understand the effects of offshore wind implementation; and long-term collaborative data management efforts. We also support other efforts to build out the U.S. offshore wind industry and establish a domestic offshore wind supply chain like supporting workforce development and investing in infrastructure that supports offshore wind.
Furthermore, Ocean Conservancy works with the White House and their policy teams to advocate for science technology and policy alignment that would advance the U.S. offshore wind energy agenda efficiently and responsibly, and in a way that minimizes environmental risk and maximizes coordination across agencies with jurisdiction over ocean resources.
Ocean Conservancy uses our expertise to incentivize the transition away from fossil fuels and to renewables like offshore wind. In doing so, we help guide the offshore wind implementation process to meet our renewable energy targets while minimizing environmental, community and cultural impacts, promoting ocean co-use.