The Biden administration has made a commitment to have ocean wind energy installations that can produce 30 gigawatts of energy by 2030. As part of that pursuit, projects have been fast-tracked in a variety of places, including off the coast of Oregon.
On April 29, 2022, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management published its “Call for Information and Nominations” related to the commercial leasing for wind energy development at two call areas off the Oregon coast in the Federal Register. Those call areas make up over 1 million acres of ocean off southern and central Oregon and encapsulate prime fishing grounds that have been sustainably fished for generations.
Millions of pounds of seafood have been harvested from those call areas in recent years, including Pacific whiting, Dungeness crab, a variety of groundfish, Oregon pink shrimp, and more. Large-scale floating offshore wind energy development will displace these fisheries.
Fishing isn’t the only concern. Negative impacts to marine mammals, seabirds, and the overall marine ecosystem are also anticipated, but addressing those concerns is difficult, given BOEM’s process of requiring an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) only AFTER leases have been auctioned.
Commercial fishing interests collaborated successfully to see the installation of a test site for the PacWave project off Oregon’s coast. The approach to offshore wind development has been entirely different, with very limited transparency and a lack of collaboration. A variety of stakeholder groups are working together to try to slow the process so that meaningful input can be gathered and decision makers can be mindful of the impact of commercial fishing on coastal communities, the food supply, and the livelihoods of multi-generational fishing families.
Studying Offshore Wind: Oregon House Bill 3375
In 2021, the Oregon legislature passed HB 3375, which placed the emphasis on studying the impacts of offshore wind energy development before making any commitments. The law requires the Oregon Department of Energy to develop a legislative report that identifies the benefits and challenges of integrating up to 3 GW of floating offshore wind by 2030.
To read the specific language of the law, click here.
Find more information about ODOE’s efforts on their website.
Oregon Overview – Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
Click on this link for an overview of BOEM’s proposal for offshore wind development off the Oregon coast.
Collaborative Partners
A variety of stakeholder groups with shared concerns about the impacts of offshore wind development and the dangers of a rushed process are working together to try to raise awareness and press decision makers for answers, as well as changes to what most agree is a flawed process. Click on the links below to learn more about the organizations actively working with RODA pursuing responsible development.
- Midwater Trawlers Cooperative – Website
- Midwater Trawlers Cooperative – Facebook Page
- Protect US Fishermen – Facebook Page
- Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission
- Pacific Whiting Conservation Cooperative
- West Coast Seafood Processors Association
- Oregon Trawl Commission
- Oregon Shrimp Producers Association
- United Catcher Boats
- Newport Fishermen’s Wives
- California Wetfish Producers Association
- West Coast Fisheries Consultants
- American Albacore Association
- Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen Association
- West Coast Pelagic Conservation Group
Watch Oregon Listening Sessions
Members of Oregon’s Coastal Caucus conducted listening sessions at several cities along the coast to gather public comment on the proposed offshore wind development. To watch any of these sessions, visit the Protect US Fishermen YouTube page.
Relevant Documents
Find a comprehensive list of municipal, port, and organizational letters to BOEM in advance of June 28, 2022 public comment deadline HERE.