Nationwide Wildlife Federation (NWF) lately launched their Offshore Wind Movie Collection “Coast to Coast” that options accountable offshore wind improvement whereas avoiding, minimizing, and mitigating opposed impacts on marine and coastal habitats and the wildlife that depend on them. It options folks from a number of areas of the nation, together with Louisiana.
NWF’s place is that when offshore wind vitality is sited, deliberate, and developed responsibly, wildlife and other people can each thrive. LWF agrees that the appliance of offshore wind initiatives ought to use the very best obtainable scientific and technological knowledge obtainable to make sure that science-based and stakeholder-informed choices could be applied for the safety of wildlife and important wildlife habitat.
LWF has been monitoring wind vitality improvement and discussing the environmental issues associated to this exercise, with a selected give attention to migratory birds. In February 2023, LWF adopted a decision associated to this rising trade in Gulf waters. Whereas LWF acknowledges that the usage of offshore wind can be utilized to fulfill state and nationwide emissions discount objectives, LWF insists on strict requirements, parameters, and obstacles, associated to wildlife and habitat safety. Simply as importantly, LWF urges the event of this trade to incorporate significant engagement with state and native governments and stakeholders from the outset.
Whereas Louisiana has embraced the identification of a “working coast”, you will need to implement methods that embody a stability of sound wildlife habitat administration practices inside that kind of construction. Figuring out and defending areas of important want stay a precedence for LWF and we assist confirmed wildlife impact-reduction methods and decommissioning plans that guarantee long-term planning for all mission improvement websites which can be confirmed to scale back environmental impacts.
Readers can discover extra info on LWF’s place on wind vitality on the following hyperlinks:
LWF place on offshore wind vitality within the Gulf of Mexico – Louisiana Wildlife Federation
LWF feedback to LDNR on offshore wind issues in state waters – Louisiana Wildlife Federation
Questions? Contact Rick Owens, LWF’s Advocacy Supervisor, at rick@lawildlifefed.org for extra info.
