Department of Energyģ Large-Scale Offshore Wind Power in the United States - Executive Summary (2010) National Renewable Energy LaboratoryĤ Environmental Impacts and Siting of Wind Projects U.S. 3ġ Offshore Wind Energy Bureau of Ocean Energy ManagementĢ Advantages and Challenges of Wind Energy U.S. Offshore wind farms built within view of the coastline (up to 26 miles offshore, depending on viewing conditions 5) may be unpopular among local residents, and may affect tourism and property values.

Effects of offshore wind farms on marine animals and birds are not fully understood.The production and installation of power cables under the seafloor to transmit electricity back to land can be very expensive.Wave action, and even very high winds, particularly during heavy storms or hurricanes, can damage wind turbines.3 Floating wind turbines are beginning to overcome this challenge. are relatively shallow, almost all of the potential wind energy resources off the west coast are in waters exceeding this depth. Although coastal waters off the east coast of the U.S. It is very hard to build robust and secure wind farms in water deeper than around 200 feet (~60 m), or over half a football field’s length.Offshore wind farms can be expensive and difficult to build and maintain.Offshore wind farms have many of the same advantages as land-based wind farms – they provide renewable energy they do not consume water they provide a domestic energy source they create jobs and they do not emit environmental pollutants or greenhouse gases.Building offshore wind farms in these areas can help to meet those energy needs from nearby sources. Half of the United States’ population lives in coastal areas, 1 with concentrations in major coastal cities. Many coastal areas have very high energy needs.

1 A steadier supply of wind means a more reliable source of energy.

Offshore wind speeds tend to be steadier than on land.

Faster wind speeds offshore mean much more energy can be generated. 1 Small increases in wind speed yield large increases in energy production: a turbine in a 15-mph wind can generate twice as much energy as a turbine in a 12-mph wind.

Offshore wind speeds tend to be faster than on land.

Coastal flats energy