Common disinformation about offshore wind power

CONTEXT: A series of whale deaths along the East Coast in early 2023 — including the endangered North Atlantic right whale — led many to falsely attribute the deaths to new offshore wind surveying and development. Many groups that have blamed offshore wind for whale deaths, including “Protect our Coasts NJ” and “Green Oceans,” are funded by fossil fuel interests and climate denial think tanks.¹ Scientists believe the North Atlantic right whale deaths can be attributed to whales feeding closer to shore, bringing them into contact with more ships and boats – leading to more deadly ship strikes.² In fact, nearly half of all documented North Atlantic right whale deaths are due to ship strikes and entanglements in fishing gear.³

CONTEXT: Statistics show that wind turbines cause less than one in 4,000 documented bird deaths from industrial activities in the U.S.; whereas cats and buildings are the top threats.⁴ Additionally, climate-heating pollution from fossil fuels poses a far bigger threat to birds than wind power. According to the National Audubon Society, two-thirds of all North American bird species are at heightened risk of extinction due to climate change,⁵ which is why Audubon and almost every major U.S. birding group supports wind energy if it’s developed thoughtfully.

CONTEXT: Research from Resources for the Future, a nonpartisan think tank, shows that offshore wind offers major benefits like lower energy costs and lower air pollution — especially for coastal communities.⁷ Coastal areas have the highest energy demand and the highest wholesale electricity prices due to this demand. Abundant wind power provides a cheap supply of energy to local communities, reducing costs to consumers.⁸ Plus, it reduces costs to public health. By replacing gas and coal, offshore wind could prevent 2,000 premature deaths from toxic air pollution.

CONTEXT: When wind power is integrated with the grid and paired with battery storage, it delivers reliable and affordable electricity. Just look at Iowa — over 50% of its power comes from wind, and it has one of the most reliable grids and some of the lowest electricity bills in the country.⁹ Offshore wind is just as dependable — and with battery storage, it can provide power even when the wind isn’t blowing. Unlike other energy sources, it can actually be more reliable during winter storms, since those storms typically bring stronger ocean winds.¹⁰

CONTEXT: Multiple studies have found  that offshore wind will not hurt tourism.  For example, in a survey of beachgoers, the majority said they would be unaffected or positively affected by the presence of offshore wind farms.¹¹ Moreover, wind farms do not negatively impact coastal property values.¹² Offshore wind farms can bring in substantial revenue for coastal towns and create goodpaying jobs that boost local employment. Additionally, host communities and project developers can establish Community Benefits Agreements, where the developer may contribute to local causes or organizations, invest in workforce development programs and more, depending on what communities prioritize.¹³ 

CONTEXT: ¹⁵ In contrast, offshore oil and gas drilling and its pollution pose serious risks. The 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster forced widespread fishery closures in the Gulf due to seafood contamination.¹⁶ And, climate change has already warmed the Gulf of Maine so dramatically — and devastated the herring population so severely — that fishery managers recently proposed slashing the herring catch by 89%.¹⁷