An Educational Resource For Offshore Wind
Offshore wind will create approximately 600,000 jobs in the US by 2050
Offshore wind will cut carbon emmissions by 30 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year
Offshore wind will use the 2,000 GW of wind energy potential off the coasts of the US
Offshore wind will be able to provide power to 80% of Americans
A list of terms relevant to offshore wind
Click below to see the glossary
A course to teach anyone about offshore wind
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A public perception survey on offshore wind
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An offshore wind farm consists of wind turbines positioned near a coastline or on the continental shelf of an ocean. These turbines generate electricity from the strong and consistent wind currents out to sea. The electricity created by these turbines is used to power nearby communities.
Offshore wind is a clean and renewable energy source that does not emit greenhouse gasses with the potential to power millions of homes. In addition, offshore wind farms help the economy by bringing in significant investments and creating tens of thousands of jobs. The United States has set a goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030.
Offshore wind is a highly reliable source of energy. Due to the abundant, strong, and more consistent winds in the ocean, offshore wind turbines are able to produce significant amounts of energy even when wind speeds appear low from shore.
The negative environmental impacts are significantly less to gas and oil alternatives, but the installation of offshore wind farms has potential negative effects on marine life and birds. The blades of offshore wind turbines pose a risk to birds and studies have shown that sound levels from pile driving (during installation) can be potentially harmful to marine species.