Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump took aim at the offshore wind industry during a three-hour interview with Joe Rogan last week. [emphasis, links added]
The former president said “windmills” harm whales and said he would eliminate offshore wind power on the first day of his second term.
“I want to be a whale psychiatrist. It drives whales crazy. Something happens to them, but for whatever reason, they wash ashore and, you know, they're ignored by these environmentalists. But they don't talk about it This. Trump said.
Trump claims this Vibrations from the operation of large structures are driving whales crazy, but experts say it's more construction and boat activity that's harming the animals.
unavoidable impact
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) reaches the same conclusion in a new report on the environmental impacts of six wind leases off the coast of New York and New Jersey.
The report found that noise can harm fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and birds, causing habitat shifts and disruption of migratory patterns.
The report contains details of mitigation measures that can be taken, but concludes: Offshore wind development “will result in unavoidable adverse impacts”.
Robert Rand, founder of acoustic consulting firm Rand Acoustics, conducted a survey of noise levels from piling and sonar surveying vessels.
Two of his separate studies found that incidental harassment warrantsoffshore wind developers must obtain permits to carry out activities that may threaten marine animals, Insufficient mitigation requirements are proposed to protect marine animals.
rand told Just news That Federal agencies may back down from their insistence that offshore wind power won't harm marine wildlife, reports suggest.
“Any concessions by federal agencies on harming marine species is both a step in the right direction and a rebuke to the agencies responsible for enforcing the MMPA. [Marine Mammal Protection Act] and ESA [Endangered Species Act],” Rand said.
Installation requirements for offshore wind towers A special vessel is used to drive the 30-foot-wide monopile into the seabed.
Rand said his research shows that even with comprehensive noise controls in place as required by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), The sound produced when piling is driven is as loud as a 2000 psi seismic air gun.
The equivalent noise level in the air is a 155 mm howitzer detonating once every two secondshe said.
Rand said developers have There is no viable method of noise control other than maintaining adequate distance from any marine wildlife.
However, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration allows the use of machinery within the habitats of endangered whales and marine species, so safe distancing cannot be maintained.
Read the break from Just The News
