Environmental Effects of Offshore Wind Energy in the Gulf of Mexico: Compilation of Educational Research Briefs [Booklet]

Summary

Title: Environmental Effects of Offshore Wind Energy in the Gulf of Mexico: Compilation of Educational Research Briefs [Booklet]

Author:

SEER

Publication Date:

January 17, 2025

Technology:

Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind

Stressor:

Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise

Receptor:

Bats, Birds, Ecosystem Processes, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Reptiles, Sea Turtles

Citation

U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research. 2025. Environmental Effects of Offshore Wind Energy in the Gulf of Mexico: Compilation of Educational Research Briefs [Booklet]. Report by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. https://tethys.pnnl.gov/seer

Document Access

Attachment:

Access File

This booklet is a compilation of educational research briefs developed as part of the U.S. Offshore Wind Synthesis of Environmental Effects Research (SEER) project that synthesize the state of knowledge about environmental effects of offshore wind energy development in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico. The booklet is separated into ten sections, each of which focuses on a particular topic, including ecosystem processes, coastal habitats, benthic habitats, birds, bats, flying insects, sea turtles, marine mammals, fish, and marine invertebrates. The topics for each section were selected in consultation with the U.S. Department of Energy Wind Energy Technologies Office (WETO) and the SEER Science Advisory Committee after extensive stakeholder engagement. The booklet was written by the SEER team at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and reviewed by the Science Advisory Committee and WETO.

Download the SEER Gulf of Mexico Research Briefs here (3 MB version for sharing).

Download the SEER Gulf of Mexico Research Briefs here (25 MB version for printing).

Authors

Mark Severy, Hayley Farr, Michael Richlen, Lenaïg Hemery, Marg Daly, Katie Morrice (PNNL)
Jeff Clerc, Cris Hein, Rebecca Green, Frank Oteri, Laura Dempsey (NREL)

Acknowledgements

The SEER project is grateful for the funding and support of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, including Naomi Lewandowski, Colette Fletcher-Hoppe, and Joy Page. We also thank the Science Advisory Committee who provided feedback and review throughout the project. Committee members represented a variety of stakeholder groups who have interests in offshore wind energy and/or the marine environment, including federal agencies, state agencies, industry representatives, research entities, and nongovernmental organizations. The SEER team greatly appreciate the following Committee members: Arie Kaller, Christopher Haney, Kevin Reynolds, Jon Hemming, Vicky Cornish, Laura Bowie, Ruth Perry, Julie Lively, Laura Picariello, Margaret Lamont, and Willem Klajbor.

Upcoming Webinar

The SEER team is hosting a webinar, "Exploring the Potential Environmental Effects of Offshore Wind Energy in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico" on 23 January 2025 from 9:00-11:00am PST (5:00-7:00pm UTC). Register here.