Offshore Wind: Myths & Lies vs Facts

ACP’s comprehensive fact sheet directly addresses the most common misconceptions with science-backed information from leading authorities including NOAA, BOEM, and independent researchers. This essential resource equips stakeholders with accurate information about offshore wind’s relationship with marine mammals, fishing industries, tourism, and national security.

Key Findings:

• Marine Mammal Protection: Federal agencies confirm there is no scientific link between offshore wind development and whale strandings or deaths, contrary to claims by clean energy opponents.
• Economic Coexistence: Research demonstrates offshore wind is compatible with fishing industries, tourism, and property values, often creating new economic opportunities in coastal communities.
• Environmental Impacts: Studies show minimal environmental effects from offshore wind infrastructure, with electromagnetic fields from cables never exceeding Earth’s natural magnetic field.
• National Security: The Department of Defense collaborates throughout the siting and permitting process to ensure offshore wind development doesn’t interfere with military operations.

Myths about offshore wind energy, such as those listed below, have intensified as the industry develops in the United States. Get complete details and information dispelling these myths by downloading ACP’s fact sheet.

MYTH: Offshore wind development is responsible for killing and stranding whales.
FACT: There is no link between whale strandings and deaths and the offshore wind industry.

MYTH: NOAA and federal agencies have authorized offshore wind developers to harass and kill whales.
FACT: Offshore wind developers have not applied for, and NOAA Fisheries has not approved, authorization to harm any marine mammals incidental to offshore wind site surveys or construction activities.

MYTH: Electric transmission cables from offshore wind projects endanger marine species.
FACT: The electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by offshore wind transmissions, similar to those already in U.S. waters, never exceeds the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field and decreases with distance from the cable.

MYTH: Offshore wind is going to kill the fishing industry in the U.S.
FACT: Offshore wind and fishing can coexist. Although offshore wind lease areas encompass tens of thousands of acres, wind turbine structures take up only a small portion of that area.

MYTH: Offshore wind farms will disrupt ocean currents and harm whale prey.
FACT: According to the study Oceanographic Effects of Offshore Wind Structures and Their Potential Impacts on the North Atlantic Right Whale and Their Prey, hydrodynamic effects that occur naturally in the ocean and from climate change are likely to dwarf any possible effects that offshore wind turbines have on the flow of ocean water – and the resulting effects on the availability of prey for the North Atlantic right whale (NARW).

MYTH: Offshore Wind will harm national security by interfering with U.S. Navy sonar and long range (over the horizon) radar.
FACT: The Department of Defense (DOD) is involved with the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) throughout the offshore wind siting and permitting process— from the initial identification of potential areas for leasing to evaluating specific projects, to recommending measures to avoid and minimize impacts.

MYTH: Offshore wind affects tourism and property values.
FACT: Evidence suggests that offshore wind turbines also have minimal to no impacts on property values and encourages tourism.

MYTH: Offshore wind is not economical to develop.
FACT: Despite the economic headwinds of 2023, continuing federal and state commitments to this nascent industry—and the family-sustaining jobs it will bring—make the industry resilient and the outlook optimistic as evidenced by the more than 30 projects moving forward with development.