Recently, false allegations regarding the impact of offshore wind on whale populations have emerged as a contentious issue in the debate surrounding the advancement of sustainable energy.

Conservatives, such as former President Donald Trump, have asserted that the installation of offshore wind turbines in recent months is leading to the death of large marine animals.

According to scientists, there is no substantial proof that connects whale fatalities to offshore wind farms. However, this has not prevented conservative organizations and impromptu anti-development groups from drawing a link.

As the migration season for the endangered North Atlantic right whale begins, the Associated Press distinguishes between truth and falsehood regarding whales and wind power.

Where can we find offshore wind projects in the United States?

Currently, there are two offshore wind farms being built in the United States. One is called South Fork Wind and is being constructed by Danish company Ørsted and utility company Eversource. It is located 35 miles (56 kilometers) east of Montauk Point, New York. On December 7th, Ørsted announced that the first of its 12 turbines is now generating electricity for the grid. The other wind farm, Vineyard Wind, is being built by a company also called Vineyard Wind and will have 62 turbines. It is located 15 miles (24 kilometers) off the coast of Massachusetts. Both wind farms are expected to be operational in early 2022, and there are other large offshore wind projects currently in the process of obtaining permits.

There are currently two test programs underway – five wind turbines near Rhode Island and two near Virginia. The Biden administration’s goal is to use offshore wind to provide energy for 10 million homes by 2030, which is a crucial aspect of their efforts towards addressing climate change.

Legal actions from local organizations caused a delay in Ørsted’s two significant offshore wind ventures in New Jersey. However, the company has now declared that it will be terminating these projects due to their lack of economic feasibility. According to David Hardy, Ørsted’s Group Executive Vice President and CEO for the Americas, this decision is unrelated to any opposition towards offshore wind in New Jersey.

Could wind farms in the United States be responsible for causing deaths of whales?

According to experts, there is no proof that the construction of wind farms on the Atlantic Coast has directly caused any deaths of whales, despite claims made for political reasons that imply a connection.

Speculation arose in 2016 when a higher than normal amount of deceased or stranded whales were discovered on the coast of New England — a pattern that predates the recent construction of large offshore wind farms in the area.

According to marine biologist Aaron Rice from Cornell University, the recent occurrences of whale strandings on the Northeast coast, such as in New Jersey, cannot be attributed to offshore wind.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released information regarding whale strandings this year. According to their report, approximately 40% of the retrieved whale carcasses displayed signs of death due to getting caught in fishing gear or being struck by a vessel. The remaining cases did not have a known cause.

In Europe, where there has been over 30 years of development in offshore wind, national agencies have not discovered any direct connections between wind farms and the deaths of whales.

Currently, American researchers are gathering information in the vicinity of offshore wind turbines to observe any potential effects that fall short of causing death, such as modified behavior or shifts in migration paths. According to Doug Nowacek, a marine biologist from Duke University, this study is still in its early stages. Nowacek also mentioned that he aided in attaching tracking devices to whales off the coast of Massachusetts this summer as part of a 5-year project funded by the federal government.

What are the actual threats that whales encounter?

Although the specific reasons for the recent stranding of whales along the East Coast remain largely unknown, it is clear that human activities pose significant threats to these marine creatures.

According to experts and government officials, the most significant dangers include ships colliding and becoming trapped in fishing equipment. Another worry is the impact of underwater noise pollution.

Certain supporters of whale conservation have described the opposition towards offshore wind energy as a diversion from genuine concerns. Gib Brogan, director of the fisheries campaign at environmental organization Oceana, stated, “It appears that this is being exploited by those against wind power for their own gain.”

Beginning in 2016, there has been a significant increase in the number of humpback whales dying, which has been classified as an “unusual mortality event” by the federal government. The North Atlantic right whale, which has a population of less than 360, is also facing an unusual mortality event.

According to NOAA, 83 whales have perished along the East Coast since December 1, 2022. Approximately half of these were humpback whales found between Massachusetts and North Carolina, while the remaining two were critically endangered right whales located in North Carolina and Virginia.

How are whales being safeguarded near wind farms?

The federal government has established regulations regarding human-caused noise in underwater environments, including both continuous noise and sudden bursts.

Projects involving construction in the ocean can minimize harm to marine animals by stopping work during times when they are migrating, implementing “bubble curtains” to contain noise produced by driving piles, and having experienced observers on ships equipped with binoculars to monitor for marine mammals.

Offshore wind developers are taking steps required by regulators, but also are voluntarily adopting measures to ensure marine mammals are not harmed. Ørsted won’t drive piles between Dec. 1 and April 30, when whales are on the move. It uses additional lookout vehicles, encircles monopiles for turbines with bubble curtains and does underwater acoustic monitoring.

Equinor intends to utilize acoustic monitoring and infrared cameras to identify the presence of whales as it begins to develop two lease areas near Long Island in collaboration with bp. The corporation has stated that it will restrict pile driving to the months with the lowest probability of right whale presence.

What is the reason behind some individuals making claims that wind farms are responsible for whale deaths?

The Heritage Foundation, a conservative organization located in Washington, D.C., is a strong critic of offshore wind energy. In November, Diana Furchtgott-Roth, the director of the foundation’s center for energy, climate, and environment, expressed her belief that Ørsted’s cancelled wind project in New Jersey was unattractive and posed a danger to wildlife.

According to Furchtgott-Roth, whales and birds would benefit if offshore wind development were to cease in the state of New Jersey.

Hardy, from Ørsted, stated that assertions of wind farms causing whale fatalities are not based on scientific evidence, but rather fueled by political misinformation.

The Heartland Institute, a conservative organization focused on public policies, has expressed opposition to offshore wind projects. H. Sterling Burnett, director of the Arthur B. Robinson Center on Climate and Environmental Policy at the institute, claims that these projects face less stringent regulatory restrictions than fossil fuel projects, which is unfair.

Burnett expressed that the expectations for this project should align with those of any other oil and gas project.

Smaller organizations against wind energy have also formed in coastal areas to protest projects that they believe will negatively impact water views, coastal industries, and recreational activities.

What is the effect of false information?

Critics of offshore wind energy are making unverified assertions regarding the negative impact on whales as a tactic to block development, particularly in New Jersey where opposition is strongest.

Incorrect information can lead to anxiety among coastal communities, especially when developers are required to construct shoreline infrastructure for a wind farm.

Republican lawmakers have acknowledged the concerns expressed by coastal towns and community organizations. Representatives from the Republican party in New Jersey, Maryland, and Arizona have successfully petitioned the U.S. Government Accountability Office to conduct a probe into the effects of offshore wind energy on the fishing industry and marine wildlife. They are also calling for a halt on new projects.

The Democratic-controlled Legislature in New Jersey continues to strongly support the industry.

Do whales experience the effects of climate change?

Whale advocates promote renewable energy as a solution to climate change, which they believe is negatively affecting the animals. They argue that reducing dependence on fossil fuels would alleviate this issue.

Researchers state that the rise in global temperatures has resulted in a shift in the preferred food source of right whales, which are tiny crustaceans, due to warming seas.

This implies that the whales have moved away from the designated ocean zones in order to find food, making them more susceptible to collisions with ships and getting caught in fishing gear. As large whales are crucial for storing carbon and maintaining the balance of the ecosystem, certain experts argue that they can also contribute to mitigating climate change.

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Source: wral.com