A panel discussion held by a RI State Representative in Little Compton, offered information on the benefits of offshore wind, ignoring the many drawbacks to marine life, ocean health and NOAA’s granting of “Incidental Take Authorizations” as minimal disturbance to the whale population. The Q&A session of the evening did not allow for interactive discussion. The press maligned fisherman and environmental groups in the audience who had questions about the possible harmful effects of the turbines.

The BOEM knows that offshore wind developments alter critial ocean dynamics. A report requested by the BOEM states that offshore wind developments, off the coast of RI and MA, will extract kinetic energy from the wind (thus reducing wind speeds), will decrease wave heights and slow ocean currents which actually contributes to sea level rise in the North East.

Offshore wind turbines can generate significant electricity but are intermittent, requiring fossil fuel generators to stabilize the grid, which increases their carbon emissions due to inefficient operation. Real-world data from Rhode Island shows that adding wind power to the grid has led to higher CO2 emissions, and developers acknowledge that offshore wind projects are unlikely to reduce global warming or combat climate change, with their primary goal being to meet renewable energy mandates.

While most citizens support urgent action on climate change, the current plan to industrialize large parts of the Atlantic Ocean with offshore wind turbines fails to align with President Biden's executive order, which emphasizes biodiversity protection and environmental justice. The approval of offshore wind projects by federal agencies, including allowing harm to endangered species like the North Atlantic right whale, undermines vital environmental protections and risks long-term ecological damage, defying the executive order's goal of addressing climate change without sacrificing biodiversity.

This commentary emphasizes the necessity for openness in offshore wind energy projects, particularly in Rhode Island. It critiques the dismissal of valid concerns about these projects as mere opposition, highlighting the importance of transparent communication between developers and the public. The piece underscores that such transparency is essential for informed decision-making and maintaining public trust.

The recent surge in whale deaths along the Atlantic coast, coinciding with offshore wind surveys, raises concerns about a potential link. Yet, NOAA and wind companies are reluctant to investigate or acknowledge the possible impact of these activities. Despite the legal protections for marine mammals, offshore wind companies continue to request permits for actions that could harm thousands of marine species, while key agencies fail to release critical data, leaving the public in the dark about the full scope of the issue.

“Desperate times often require desperate measures, but large-scale, unproven, and invasive measures, often cause unforeseen harm. The ocean’s finite and irreplaceable resources can disappear. Wind can dissipate. Once destroyed, uniquely productive habitats and breeding grounds that sustain life on earth may not return.”