Biden Administration to Expand Offshore Wind

The Biden administration announced plans today for a significant expansion of the nation’s offshore wind efforts. Officials announced a goal of 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power by the end of the decade, offsetting fossil fuels and creating clean energy jobs.

“President Biden’s decision to ramp up offshore wind is an important part of our clean energy future. This is a long-overdue plan that helps mitigate climate change with a reliable, renewable, and abundant domestic energy source,” said Renee Stone, senior vice president of conservation programs. “Encouraging the rapid development of clean, safe, responsible renewable energy development is the right thing to do. We applaud the Biden administration for its commitment to clean energy, but the impacts of these developments on marine and coastal wildlife must be carefully considered, and their protection must be factored into decision-making at all steps.”

Defenders of Wildlife is a leading conservation organization focused on ensuring the protection of wildlife from the deleterious impacts of climate change as well as the shorter-term impacts of utility-scale development. However, the development of renewable energy sources must be done in a manner that also protects wildlife, the ecosystem and the resources we care about. If not sited and operated properly, offshore wind energy facilities can harm sensitive migratory birds and marine mammals that often face risks from other types of development.