The Truth Behind the Offshore Wind: Who’s Really Opposed?
Part One
When I retired from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab in early 2024 and moved to California’s Central Coast in 2022, I had big plans for my next chapter—spending more time with my grandkids, and finally taking those classes I’d been dreaming about: geology, astronomy, maybe even jewelry making and flower arranging.
But those plans took a turn when I started reading wild claims about offshore wind: that it kills whales, is worse for the environment than fossil fuels, and would ruin our coastline. After years of working in science communications and battling climate misinformation, I knew better than to take those claims at face value. So I did what I’ve always done—I turned to peer-reviewed science and expert sources.
What I found? None of those scary headlines held up. Offshore wind is actually one of the best tools we have to fight climate change. It turns ocean winds into clean energy—and fast.
So why are some people trying so hard to stop it?
Who’s Opposed to Offshore Wind?
A research team from Brown University looked into who’s pushing back against offshore wind projects, especially along the East Coast. And here’s what they found: most of the resistance isn’t coming from regular folks worried about their view or the fish. A lot of it comes from powerful, well-funded groups. Some of these are backed by fossil fuel companies or politically motivated organizations that don’t want clean energy to succeed.
Some of these groups claim to care about the environment or local fishing. However, the researchers found little evidence they’ve actually worked on those issues. Instead, many have a long history of spreading climate disinformation. The study even mapped out how these groups are connected, showing a coordinated effort to slow or stop offshore wind.
Offshore Wind on the California Central Coast
Right here in California’s Central Coast, the propaganda machine opposed to offshore wind is in full force. San Luis Obispo County is now home to three offshore wind leases—paving the way for a new era of clean, floating wind power. The main group fighting offshore wind locally is linked to several of the same organizations active on the East Coast—like the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrow (CFACT), which has spread false claims about climate change for years. When they were still required to report their funding, CFACT got nearly 40% of its revenue from now bankrupt coal companies like Peabody Energy and Murray Energy. The Kochs also funded CFACT through a pro-fossil fuel non-profit, Donors Trust.
Our local opposition group is also connected to groups like Green Ocean, Protect Our Coast, the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association, Save Our Beach, Save the East Coast, and a few individuals like C. Michael Hogan. Hogan is a physicist who has never published a single peer-reviewed paper related to climate or offshore wind. These groups and individuals rely on fear tactics and misleading information to turn communities against offshore wind. And, it’s working.
The bottom line? A lot of the loudest voices against offshore wind aren’t who they seem to be. It’s important we ask: Who really benefits if these projects don’t move forward?
What They’re Saying–and What the Science Really Says
Let’s break down some of the claims people are making about offshore wind—and what scientists have found.
Offshore wind will kill whales and other marine mammals.
There’s no science to support that claim. In fact, scientists who study whales say most strandings and deaths are caused by marine heatwaves, ship strikes, fishing gear, and pollution. In fact, between 2002 and 2021, about 7.000 whales died most likely from marine heatwaves. While whale deaths are heartbreaking, blaming wind energy distracts from the real problems. Experts have found no link between offshore wind activity and the increase in whale strandings along the East Coast. Instead, Scientists found that more humpback whales are being killed by ships. Why? Because the whales have moved into new areas to find food—places where there’s a lot of boat traffic. As ship traffic increased, so did whale deaths, especially in spots where whales feed near the surface or in shallow water.
Wind turbines kill birds.
To be honest, there aren’t any recent studies of the number of birds that die each year from collisions with wind turbines. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that about 1.2 million birds may die each year from hitting wind turbines. That sounds like a lot, but there are even bigger threats to birds. For example, outdoor cats kill between 1.3 and 4 billion birds in the U.S. every year. And according to a major study, birds flying into buildings kill over a billion more.
The good news is that there are ways to make wind energy safer for birds. Scientists and engineers are working on smart solutions like using radar or GPS to track bird movements and shut down turbines when birds are nearby. They’re also testing ways to keep birds away by using sound or turning off turbines during times when birds are most active.
So yes, wind turbines do kill some birds, but they’re not the biggest threat—and we’re getting better at protecting birds while still creating clean, renewable energy.
High Resolution Geophysical (HRG) surveys are making whales “crazy” and “batty.”
There’s a lot of talk about whether offshore wind projects are hurting whales, but scientists say the tools used for wind energy aren’t dangerous to them. HRG surveys, which help map the ocean floor, use sounds that are either too high-pitched for whales to hear or only affect a tiny area. Experts, including those at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and Duke University, say there’s no evidence these surveys hurt whales, dolphins, or sea turtles.
Developers use pile driving (hammering poles into the ocean floor) for fixed-bottom offshore wind, and they must follow strict rules to protect whales. They can only do this work when whales have already migrated to other areas. They also use special equipment like bubble curtains to reduce noise and hire trained observers with infrared cameras and underwater microphones to make sure no whales are nearby. What’s much louder and more harmful? Seismic airguns used by oil and gas companies. Those disturb whales far more than anything used for wind energy.
Planning for offshore wind does include safety steps that help protect whales If we want clean energy and a safer climate, we need to understand who’s trying to stop it—and why.
Offshore wind creates significant carbon emissions.
Building offshore wind turbines does create some pollution, like carbon emissions. This mostly occurs during the manufacturing and shipping process. But it’s much less than the pollution from burning fossil fuels like coal and gas. And once the turbines are up and running, they help avoid a lot more pollution by creating clean energy instead. For now, this part of wind energy is still necessary.
Wind power is super clean! It creates only about 11 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂) for every kilowatt-hour of electricity. Compare that to natural gas, which produces around 465 grams, and coal, which pumps out a whopping 980 grams. That means coal releases almost 90 times more CO₂ than wind!
The Bottom Line:To fight climate change, we need to switch to clean energy quickly. Offshore wind is a great option because ocean winds are strong—especially in the afternoon and evening, when people use the most electricity. Solar power works best during the day, and land-based wind is usually strongest at night. By working together, these clean energy sources can help keep the lights on all day and night.
Looking for hope and action? Visit my Solutions page for ideas that work.
Learn about the environmental organizations supporting offshore wind:
Stay tuned for part two coming soon!
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