More than 200 bird species in North Carolina may face unlivable conditions across their current ranges if we don’t take action to cut carbon emissions. That’s why Audubon North Carolina supports responsibly sited offshore wind energy, and is engaging in the latest planning process by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on the central Atlantic Coast.
The agency is gathering input on a swath of the Atlantic Ocean totaling 13 million acres and stretching from New Jersey to North Carolina. The ultimate goal is to identify a location for another possible offshore wind lease. Currently, three wind energy areas have been leased off the North Carolina coast, one offshore from Kitty Hawk and another two southeast of Wilmington.
Audubon and our partners have attended public hearings, contributed data, and submitted comments supporting the creation of responsibly sited new wind energy areas. We want offshore wind energy development that is deployed quickly and efficiently, while also avoiding important bird and wildlife habitat and with robust monitoring and mitigation of adverse impacts.
In this latest phase of planning for the central Atlantic Ocean, we are asking that BOEM:
Carefully consider the impacts of offshore wind development to key species when selecting wind energy areas, with special attention to nocturnal migrants. Additional research and monitoring should be prioritized in the southern portion of the central Atlantic area due to the presence of Black-capped Petrels, an imperiled seabird that received federal endangered species protections earlier this year.
Integrate federal environmental review (known as the National Environmental Protection Act, or NEPA) earlier into the offshore wind leasing and development process, to optimize efficient selection of potential sites and exclusion of environmentally unsuitable areas.
Use the best available science, including incorporating new information as it becomes available. Critical data gaps regarding the seasonality and distribution of birds through immediate year-round monitoring.
Design a networked transmission system spanning the Atlantic Coast, to reduce the number of interconnection points, decrease the number of transmission cables and physical transmission infrastructure. This will help make transmission efficient and reduce habitat impacts.
Learn more about responsibly sited offshore wind energy here.
