Abstract
On March 4, 2024, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) convened a workshop to discuss observational and modeling approaches to understanding the impacts of offshore wind development off the West Coast on California Current upwelling, and to develop overall recommendations for how to monitor and model the relevant parameters to assess such impacts. The workshop was informed by a previous modeling study that simulates impacts of offshore wind infrastructure in the California wind energy areas on hydrodynamics in the region (Raghukumar et al. 2023). Discussions were also informed by recommendations from a recent National Academies of Sciences report, which highlights the need for more observational studies that target all phases of wind energy development as well as more model validation studies that evaluate simulations of hydrodynamic processes at turbine, wind farm, and regional scales (National Academies 2023). Despite focusing on the Nantucket Shoals region, this previous report’s recommendations are relevant for Pacific offshore wind as well. The workshop was attended by 19 in-person participants and 23 virtual participants representing federal and state agencies, academic institutions, national labs, a Tribal support organization, offshore wind developers, industry professionals, and a non-profit organization. Attendees’ expertise included physical oceanography (both modeling and field sampling), atmospheric science and modeling, federal permitting, renewable energy generation, engineering, offshore wind development, and data management and delivery. The workshop was facilitated by Kearns & West.