(University of Oregon School of Law, 2022-05-03) Hutchison, Lindsey
Offshore wind development is the next great frontier for energy production in the United States. The technical potential for offshore wind is more than 2,000 gigawatts, double the nation’s current electricity use and far greater than the potential for wind energy produced on land. Despite this enormous potential, the United States has no commercial-scale offshore wind farms and only two active offshore wind farms at this time, off the coasts of Rhode Island and Virginia. Many concerns accompany the development of offshore wind, including a lack of scientific studies on the effects offshore wind farms have on the fishing industry. The fishing industry has been successfully fighting back on the development of offshore wind farms.To ensure the success of President Biden’s ambitious offshore wind development plan, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM)and state and local governments must adequately consider the fishing industry. This Article explains the piecemeal approach of the many laws that control the development of offshore wind farms and how those laws work together.
