Feds unveil plan to grow wind power while sparing rare whale

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By PATRICK WHITTLE

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The federal government has outlined a strategy to try to protect an endangered species of whale while also developing offshore wind power off the East Coast.

President Joe Biden’s administration has made a priority of encouraging offshore wind along the Atlantic coast as the U.S. pursues greater energy independence. Those waters are also home to the declining North Atlantic right whale, which numbers about 340 in the world.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management released a draft plan this month to conserve the whales while allowing for the building of wind projects. The agencies said the ongoing efforts to save the whales and create more renewable energy can coexist.

“As we face the ongoing challenges of climate change, this strategy provides a strong foundation to help us advance renewable energy while also working to protect and recover North Atlantic right whales, and the ecosystem they depend on,” said Janet Coit, assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries



FILE - A North Atlantic right whale feeds on the surface of Cape Cod Bay off the coast of Plymouth, Mass., in this March 28, 2018, file photo. President Joe Biden's administration has made a priority of encouraging offshore wind along the Atlantic coast in waters that are home to the declining North Atlantic right whale. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)


Read more: https://apnews.com/article/biden-maine-animals-oceans-wind-power-95c8ac0a999180a4dd0222f606ffcd4f

[PatrickforB]

1. Another great thing brought to you by the Biden Administration and Democrats.

Thanks for posting.

[TigressDem]

2. What if the "wind farm" could have a huge "passage-way" to help whales avoid boats etc..

from your link:

The right whales have been declining in recent years and face threats such as collisions with ships and entanglement in fishing gear. Environmentalist groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, have called for more protections for the whales.

The protection strategy is promising, but it needs funding for implementation and requirements for measures that minimize harm to the whales, said Alison Chase, a senior policy analyst with the council. Those include speed and noise reductions, Chase said.




So the shipping lanes, recreational and fishing vessels are stressing the whales.



WHAT IF
The wind turbines were positioned and set up as underground protected passage for the whales and other sea life?

[TigressDem]

3. OR they could be guided shipping lanes that give whales an under bridge

THEIR migration path is epic

https://www.boatus.com/-/media/images/boatus/article-others/2020/september/east-coast-whale-watching-map.ashx?h=700&w=700&la=en&hash=E3A76FF6AFF1C8C9518416ECA1901A6A


IF the wind farms crossed their paths West to East and had very visible barriers down to 50 feet, maybe add audio to intensify the solidity of the barrier to the whale's senses. 50 feet is what most ports need to have big ships or huge cargo vessels come in to shore.

THEN BELOW 200 feet could also be sectioned off to keep them from getting tangled in fishing gear that goes down to the bottom. White whales seldom go down that far but when they dive they can get caught up in lines and nets.

So having spaces where line could be dropped, but direct the whales around it keeps fishing boats in business and whales alive.

[Bayard]

4. I hope it works

If they get to implement it. I fear for all endangered species if rethuglicans regain power.

[hunter]

6. These turbines won't save the world, they won't save the whales...

... they won't reduce the total amount of greenhouse gasses dumped in the atmosphere, and they won't significantly reduce anyone's environmental footprint. All they'll do is prolong our dependence on natural gas.

What the whales need is for us to keep our crap out of their ocean.

As some kind of radical environmentalist I don't reject all renewable energy schemes, just those that are built in previously undeveloped areas.

Wind turbines are incapable of displacing fossil fuels entirely, which is something we must do.

Without fossil fuel inputs exceeding 50% of these turbine's nameplate capacity they are not economically viable. That experiment has already been done in places like California, Denmark, and Germany.

The gas industry knows it. They've seen the numbers, which are available to anyone, and done the math. These things are ugly greenwash.