Are offshore wind turbines killing whales?
This topic has sparked a lot of controversy, but it’s important to focus on the facts. If you’re interested in diving deeper into the science, I suggest starting at 𝟰:𝟭𝟲 in this PBS NewsHour video:
Here’s a key takeaway:
"𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝗹𝗽𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝗳𝗮𝗿𝗺."
Jessica Redford, a quantitative ecologist at The New England Aquarium, puts it plainly:
"𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗲. 𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗲𝗲𝗺𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻."
As we continue to expand renewable energy infrastructure, it’s critical that we base our discussions on evidence and scientific data, not misinformation or exaggerated claims. Offshore wind farms may raise legitimate environmental concerns, but jumping on the hate train without conclusive evidence doesn’t help progress or conservation.
Let’s ensure that the renewable energy transition is rooted in innovation and environmental stewardship, working toward solutions that protect both ecosystems and the planet’s future.
𝗠𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀:
NOAA Fisheries: “At this point, there is no scientific evidence that noise resulting from offshore wind site characterization surveys could potentially cause whale deaths. There are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities.”https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/new-england-mid-atlantic/marine-life-distress/frequent-questions-offshore-wind-and-whales
FactCheck.org: “Whales have been dying at an unusual rate along the Atlantic Coast since 2016, often from ship strikes or entanglements with fishing gear. Federal agencies and experts say there is no link to offshore wind activities, although they continue to study the potential risks.” https://www.factcheck.org/2023/03/no-evidence-offshore-wind-development-killing-whales/
U.S. Department of Energy: “As of now, there is no evidence to support speculation that noise resulting from wind development-related site characterization surveys could potentially cause mortality of whales, and no specific links between recent large whale mortalities and currently ongoing surveys.” https://www.energy.gov/articles/addressing-misinformation-offshore-wind-farms-and-recent-whale-mortalities
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: “Baumgartner’s take aligns with reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) suggesting that there are no known links between large whale deaths and ongoing offshore wind activities.” https://www.whoi.edu/oceanus/feature/are-offshore-wind-farms-harming-right-whales/
BBC News: “There is no evidence to back Mr Trump’s suggestion that offshore wind turbines are killing whales. NOAA officials carried out post-mortem examinations on about 90 humpback whales found dead since 2016 and found that 40% had been struck by ships.” https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66928305
