Offshore wind faces a whale of a problem

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Jan 30, 2023 View in browser   By Arianna Skibell Presented by Evergreen Collaborative and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) The body of a humpback whale lies on a beach in Brigantine, N.J., after it washed ashore on Jan. 13, 2023. | Wayne Parry/AP Photo A spate of dead whales washing ashore in the Northeast is stirring a political debate that could have implications for the country’s offshore wind targets. While federal scientists say there is no evidence the region’s wind development and whale deaths are linked, the co-occurence of the two is threatening New Jersey’s ambitious offshore wind agenda, writes POLITICO reporter Ry Rivard. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy set a statewide target of generating 11 gigawatts of offshore wind power by 2040, which is a key component of President Joe Biden’s larger plan of producing 30 GW by decade’s end — enough to power 10 million homes. Generating that much wind power will require developers to install hundreds of giant turbines miles off the coast. But the beached whales are giving some lawmakers pause, while creating unexpected alliances. For example, the environmental group Clean Ocean Action, which has long been wary of wind infrastructure’s impact on the ocean, has found an ally in conservative media figure Tucker Carlson and six Republican lawmakers in New Jersey. Carlson is running a series of segments called “The Biden Whale Extinction.” In mid-January, he also called wind energy “the DDT of our time.” And at least one moderate Democrat — New Jersey state Sen. Vin Gopal — has expressed hesitation, saying he’s “very concerned” about any ties between wind and the whales. Clean Ocean Action is pushing for officials to first conduct a pilot project for offshore wind, and to focus on what it calls the “fastest, cleanest, safest” ways to reduce carbon emissions: energy reduction and conservation. But wind supporters point to the lack of evidence for a link to the deaths. They argue that there’s no reason to stop the development of carbon-free energy, which could ease the threat whales face from climate change. Cause of death: Unknown Federal regulators and scientists from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management have determined that there is no evidence that wind development activities — such as sonic mapping of the ocean floor and increased ship traffic — will exacerbate or compound whale deaths. Both loud sounds and ship strikes are known threats to whales. But wind development isn’t the only disruptive activity in ocean waters. Last year, nearly 3,000 ships passed through the Port of New York and New Jersey — far more than the number of vessels associated with offshore wind. Federal scientists say the number of humpback whales in the region chasing prey close to the shoreline is proliferating — potentially leading to more whales being struck by ships or entangled in fishing gear. Still, whales are dying on beaches at an unprecedented rate at the same time as an unmatched amount of offshore wind work is underway. For Clean Ocean Action Executive Director Cindy Zipf, that is worthy of a deeper investigation. “It doesn’t seem to me that they have conducted very much review of anything, which is what we’re calling for,” Zipf told Ry.   It's Monday — thank you for tuning in to POLITICO's Power Switch. I'm your host, Arianna Skibell. Power Switch is brought to you by the journalists behind E&E News and POLITICO Energy. Send your tips, comments, questions to askibell@eenews.net. A message from Evergreen Collaborative and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): The U.S. can run on 100% clean electricity by 2035. While the Inflation Reduction Act was a huge step, our leaders must go further, faster to put our clean energy commitments within reach. Read our new report to find out immediate actions President Biden, EPA, FERC, state leaders, and others must take to stay on track.   Listen to today’s POLITICO Energy podcast Today in POLITICO Energy’s podcast: Josh Siegel and Kelsey Tamborrino break down the GOP’s messaging effort about the nation's reserve of oil, and what’s next for the House Republican energy agenda. workplace woes Illustration by Claudine Hellmuth/E&E News The National Audubon Society, one of the oldest and best-known environmental advocacy groups in the country, has had a tumultuous few years. Staff complaints of a toxic work environment spilled into the news. The organization enraged workers when it laid off staff on Earth Day. The group’s longtime leader resigned under pressure. Employees unionized, writes Robin Bravender. But despite new leadership’s pledges to rebuild morale and promote diversity, equity and inclusion inside the nonprofit, problems persist. The organization has churned through leaders of its diversity office, including the most recent, who resigned in December. Staffers accuse management of slow-walking union negotiations and failing to stem employee turnover in recent years. The 118-year-old bird conservation group is also facing pressure to change its name to distance itself from John James Audubon, an enslaver.   A message from Evergreen Collaborative and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council):   Power Centers An artist’s rendering of Project Bison, a 5-megaton carbon removal project in Wyoming. | Business Wire Sucked from the air At least four groups have expressed interest in a new $3.5 billion federal program that aims to fight global warming with the use of machines that can suck carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, write Carlos Anchondo and Corbin Hiar. Though the technology is still nascent, scientists say direct air capture could become a powerful weapon against climate change. R.I.P Virginia EV rebate Drivers across the United States are snapping up state incentives to make the switch to electric cars. But in Virginia, lawmakers are struggling to fund a rebate program already on the books, writes Niina H. Farah. Virginia's saga offers a cautionary tale of the political roadblocks that can get in the way of funding such programs, as the number of states offsetting the cost of EVs continues to grow. Oil boss at COP A group of U.S. lawmakers wants the Biden administration to ask the United Arab Emirates to remove the oil company chief the country chose to lead the next U.N. climate talks, writes Karl Mathiesen. The 27 senators and representatives are seeking, at a minimum, assurances that the UAE will promote an ambitious COP28 summit. in other news Tech: Despite worries of a recession, tech workers and investors are flocking to startups that aim to combat climate change. Study: Ninety-nine percent of the existing U.S. coal fleet is more expensive to run compared with replacement by new solar or wind.   JOIN POLITICO ON 2/9 TO HEAR FROM AMERICA’S GOVERNORS: In a divided Congress, more legislative and policy enforcement will shift to the states, meaning governors will take a leading role in setting the agenda for the nation. Join POLITICO on Thursday, Feb. 9 at World Wide Technology's D.C. Innovation Center for The Fifty: America's Governors, where we will examine where innovations are taking shape and new regulatory red lines, the future of reproductive health, and how climate change is being addressed across a series of one-on-one interviews. REGISTER HERE.     Subscriber Zone A showcase of some of our best subscriber content. The sun rises over an oil field near Lost Hills, Calif. | David McNew/Getty Images California lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require thousands of major U.S. companies to disclose their greenhouse gas emissions, surpassing the proposed federal mandate. John Morton spent the last two years forging the Treasury Department’s first agencywide climate strategy. Now, he’s headed back to the private sector to help companies capitalize on it. Public health and environmental groups are mulling litigation to frustrate the Energy Department’s plans to spend $6 billion in bailout money for struggling nuclear power plants. That's it for today, folks! Thanks for reading.   LISTEN TO POLITICO'S ENERGY PODCAST: Check out our daily five-minute brief on the latest energy and environmental politics and policy news. Don't miss out on the must-know stories, candid insights, and analysis from POLITICO's energy team. Listen today.     A message from Evergreen Collaborative and NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council): President Biden made a pledge to the American people to halve carbon pollution by 2030 and achieve 100% clean electricity by 2035. His administration still has a huge role to play in achieving these goals. Read our just-released report to learn which steps are most critical to keeping his climate commitments within reach.     Follow us on Twitter Arianna Skibell @ariannaskibell   Follow us

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