The Real Price Of Green Energy: Dead Whales Possibly Linked To Wind Project
It's no secret that green energy is all the rage these days, but the recent spate of whale deaths off the East Coast has sparked a heated debate about the role of wind power in our environment.
Nine whales, including two sperm whales and seven humpback whales, have been found dead off the coasts of four East Coast states in less than two months, according to federal environmental officials.
Environmental groups have been quick to point the finger at offshore wind development, with Clean Ocean Action's executive director Cindy Zipf stating, "The wave of dead whales is the ocean sounding the alarm and we must heed the warning."
However, other environmental groups have pushed back, saying that it is irresponsible to assume offshore wind infrastructure caused the whale deaths without evidence. Anjuli Ramos-Busot, the New Jersey director of the Sierra Club, said that "Blaming offshore wind projects on whale mortality without evidence is not only irresponsible but overshadows the very real threats of climate change, plastic pollution, and unsustainable fishery management practices to these animals."
President Biden has argued that offshore wind will create jobs and power millions of homes in the future, and the Department of Interior has expanded plans for offshore lease sales for wind development.
Though the Biden administration has a goal of promoting green energy, it should take into account the potential risks to marine life, including endangered species. The Center for Biological Diversity suggests that the current offshore wind development permitting process needs to be scaled back, but not scrapped altogether.
As the East Coast states push for aggressive green energy development, it's becoming clear that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of marine life. The Biden administration needs to take a step back and consider all possible risks before rushing into offshore wind projects. Otherwise, we could find ourselves in the same situation again in the not-so-distant future.