RESEARCH & MEDIA

Economic and Environmental Impact Studies

• Economic Studies:

  • Detailed breakdown of projected costs from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report.

  • Analysis of the economic burden on local, state, and federal budgets.

  • Impact on household and business electricity costs with projections and models.

• Environmental Impact Reports:

  • Studies and reports on the carbon footprint from the entire lifecycle of offshore wind turbines.

  • Documentation of incidents like the turbine blade break near Nantucket and any other events we know of, the rate turbines catch on fire, etc.

Stakeholders in Offshore Wind Projects

• Government Agencies and Their Roles in Offshore Wind Development

  • Federal Agencies:

    • Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM):

      • Role: Responsible for managing ocean energy and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf.

      • Specific Involvement: BOEM oversees the leasing, plan approval, and environmental compliance for offshore wind projects. They ensure that development complies with environmental regulations through rigorous NEPA processes, which include environmental impact statements (EIS) and assessments (EA) to evaluate potential impacts on the natural and human environment.

    • Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):

      • Role: Protects human health and the environment.

      • Specific Involvement: Assesses environmental impacts of offshore wind projects, focusing on air and water quality standards. The EPA also enforces compliance with environmental regulations, ensuring that projects minimize their ecological footprint.

State Agencies:

• California Coastal Commission (CCC):

  • Role: Protects and enhances California’s coast and ocean for current and future generations.

  • Specific Involvement: Reviews and approves coastal development permits for offshore wind projects to ensure consistency with California’s coastal management policies. The CCC also ensures that these projects do not adversely affect the coastal environment and public access.

• California Energy Commission (CEC):

  • Role: Attempting to lead the state to a “100% clean energy future”.

  • Specific Involvement: Coordinates state energy policy, planning, and development, including renewable energy projects like offshore wind. The CEC works closely with other state agencies to integrate renewable energy into California’s grid.

Local Government:

• Role: Local city councils and county boards engage in zoning and local approvals.

  • Specific Involvement: They handle local permits, community hearings, and other approvals necessary for the projects, ensuring that developments align with local standards and benefit the community.

Key Private and Public Stakeholders in Offshore Wind Projects

Wind Companies:

• Details: Companies such as Equinor, Invenergy, and Golden State Wind are central to the development and operation phases of offshore wind projects.

  • Role: These companies design, install, and manage offshore wind projects. They interact with regulatory bodies to ensure compliance and work with local communities to address concerns and impacts.

  • Impact: They bring the investments and technology and face major scrutiny over environmental impacts and community integration.

Investment Firms:

• Details: Includes financial backers like multinational investment firms.

  • Role: Provide the capital necessary for the extensive costs associated with offshore wind projects.

  • Impact: Their investments influence project scopes and scales, often driving the speed and nature of development, which raises concerns about prioritizing profit over environmental and community welfare.

Community Groups and Nonprofits:

• Details: Involves entities like ourselves (REACT Alliance) and other environmental or community advocacy groups. Include details on REACH, where their funding comes from in comparison, etc.… In community group section or the section below?

  • Role: Often act as watchdogs, advocating for responsible development and ensuring that environmental and community impacts are considered.

  • Impact: Can influence public opinion and policy through advocacy, protests, and participation in public hearings, shaping the project's acceptance and modifications.

Scientific and Research Organizations:

• Details: Universities and independent research institutes conduct studies related to environmental impacts and technology efficacy.

  • Role: Provide research and data that guide project decisions, influence regulatory standards, and assess long-term impacts.

  • Impact: Their findings are critical in shaping how projects are designed and operated to minimize ecological damage and optimize energy output.

Additional Stakeholders:

• Details: Includes supply chain vendors, construction companies, and consultants.

  • Role: Support the logistical and operational aspects of offshore wind projects, from the manufacturing of components to the construction and maintenance of facilities.

  • Impact: Their efficiency and technological innovations can significantly influence project timelines, costs, and environmental impacts.

Technological and Infrastructural Analysis

• Feasibility Studies on Floating Turbine Technology:

  • Reviews of technological challenges associated with these brand new experimental deep-water installations.

  • Provides info on any similar global projects and their outcomes (such as attempting to compare more shallow floating turbines)

• Infrastructure Requirements and Concerns:

  • Analysis of existing ports and their lacking capabilities and necessary upgrades.

  • Impact assessments of constructing new infrastructure on local ecosystems and communities.

Legal and Policy Documentation

• Permitting Process Insights:

  • Detailed overview of the permitting process.

  • Critiques and challenges faced in regulatory frameworks (we can highlight inefficiencies, the lack of transparency and the clear potential for conflicts of interest within the rules and laws that oversee the implementation of projects like this)

• Legal Challenges and Community Actions:

  • Summaries of ongoing legal actions against the projects.

  • Documentation of community meetings, protests, and official responses.

Biological and Ecological Impact Research

• Marine Biodiversity Studies:

  • Research on impacts to marine biodiversity (we could focus on the Pacific Flyway and marine mammal migration paths)

  • Case studies of similar installations impacts on marine life and bird migration if possible while stressing how unique and experimental this will be in deep water.

• Ecological System Analyses:

  • Reports on upwelling areas and their significance to marine ecosystems.

  • Potential risks and long-term ecological footprints.

Socioeconomic Impact and Community Response

• Socioeconomic Studies:

  • Impact on local economies (tourism and fishing)

  • Projections of changes in housing values and community profiles.

• Public Opinion and Engagement Reports:

  • Surveys and studies reflecting community attitudes and responses (which have been done on the east coast in their community already?).

  • Platforms and forums for community engagement and activism.

Resources

• Links to other activist resources, mention our upcoming events page, and ways for the public to get involved or express their concerns (from joining in to help us whether big or small, to public speaking at meetings, joining rallys etc.).

• Request REACT to provide a presentation to your group here.