The Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, a coalition of fishing industry associations and fishing companies, filed a petition for review on September 13 with the United States First Circuit Court of Appeals over the ruling. of July 15, 2021 from the US Secretary of the Interior approving the Vineyard Wind 1 offshore wind power project 15 miles south of Martha’s Vineyard.

Vineyard Wind 1 is the first commercial-sized offshore wind farm to receive approval to build offshore turbines. It plans 62 turbines delivering 800 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 400,000 customers and reduce carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes per year. It is owned by a 50/50 partnership between Copenhagen Infrastructures and Avangrid Renewables LLC.

According to a press release from RODA, the action is warranted because despite the willingness of RODA members to work with offshore wind energy companies, its contribution gleaned from generations of fishing experience has been largely overlooked by decision makers during the hiring process under the Office of Ocean Energy Management.

“The hasty approval of this project, which could be the country’s first commercial-scale offshore wind facility, adds unacceptable risk to this sustainable industry without any effort to minimize unreasonable interference with traditional and well-managed production and navigation. seafood. This is an unprecedented decision by BOEM, and it is essential that it does it correctly so that future projects follow a reliable roadmap rather than a flawed and dangerous example ”, a said Anne Hawkins, Executive Director of RODA. “Unfortunately, this lawsuit is the only recourse available to fishermen to ensure that the concerns of fishing communities are taken into account.”
According to RODA, the BOEM-approved project design, a grid with wind turbines located one nautical mile apart, would endanger fishermen by placing the turbines too close to each other for fishing vessels can navigate safely in bad weather or rough seas. Fishermen have also repeatedly called for an assessment of the cumulative impact of offshore wind development on fisheries and protected resources.

Unfortunately, BOEM has not taken a holistic approach to dealing with the cumulative impact of offshore wind on the ocean ecosystem and coastal communities. It is impossible to effectively plan a new ocean industry without such analysis, especially with such a large environmental footprint. ”

Late last year, under the Trump administration, BOEM announced the end of the federal environmental review process for Vineyard Wind, essentially killing the project, RODA says. “But shortly after the change of administration, the agency abruptly announced ‘the completion’ of that same review and a new misinterpretation of existing law that would inform its decision without even accepting public comment.

“The federal government must provide prudent and impartial oversight of energy policy, carefully balancing multiple public interests. Instead, BOEM has sincerely not considered any mitigation measures other than those intentionally suggested by the investment banks and multinational energy giants to which it leases federal lands and waters, ”it reads. in the petition. “Climate change needs to be addressed, but in a way that deliberately minimizes the direct impacts of these emerging technologies on marine ecosystems, biodiversity and food security.

“Fishermen committed to responsible ocean management have attended hundreds of meetings with offshore wind developers, leading cooperative research efforts and co-designing effective solutions for sustainable fisheries management,” Hawkins continued. . “RODA and its members are engaging in good faith discussions on offshore wind and providing detailed feedback to BOEM, which was flatly ignored in this decision.

“This lawsuit is an effort to repair a faulty system so that offshore wind power can only be developed in a properly regulated and environmentally friendly manner, consistent with the protection of fishing communities and other ocean activities.

“The American fishing industry harvests a renewable food source for the American people and provides vital services to coastal communities and the nation; in 2019, U.S. commercial fishermen landed 9.3 billion pounds of seafood worth $ 5.5 billion. U.S. fisheries are held to a high standard of sustainability through actions taken by regional fisheries management councils, federal agencies, and the fishing industry’s dedication to persisting while complying with ever-changing regulations designed to protect our oceans. However, they are under increasing pressure from unfair competition with foreign entities able to circumvent strict environmental oversight. “

To learn more about the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance or to support its efforts to protect American fishermen, visit rodafisheries.org. -PJ