Resolution 2023-05
WHEREAS, climate change is an existential threat to the nation’s wildlife, ecosystems, and people; and
WHEREAS, carbon pollution from burning fossil fuels to generate electricity, heat our homes, and power our transportation system is the primary contributor to climate change; and
WHEREAS, the United States contributes disproportionately to global fossil fuel emissions; and
WHEREAS, the fossil fuel-driven energy system – and the climate change it has caused – create disproportionate impacts in low-income communities and communities of color; and
WHEREAS, offshore wind is a reliable source of renewable energy that will increase our nation’s energy security while protecting ratepayers from the energy price spikes that plague fossil fuels, especially through long-term contracts; and
WHEREAS, America has vast offshore wind energy resources, with over 4,000 gigawatts of clean electricity generation potential identified by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and this resource is close to 85% of the nation’s population and energy demand; and
WHEREAS, offshore wind power is one of America’s largest and most powerful untapped renewable energy sources and has great potential to replace our nation’s fossil fuel emissions and protect wildlife, people, and the planet from worsening dangers of climate change; and
WHEREAS, offshore wind will create significant economic and workforce development opportunities including tens of thousands of high-quality jobs; and
WHEREAS, Europe has been demonstrating that offshore wind turbines are a proven technology that produces reliable clean energy for over three decades, and the industry is booming around the globe; and
WHEREAS, all energy development has some effect on wildlife and the environment, and responsibly sited offshore wind power has significantly fewer negative effects than many of its alternatives; and
WHEREAS, the cost of inaction on offshore wind as a critical climate solution would be astronomical in comparison to the cost of pursuing it; and
WHEREAS, offshore wind power can be developed in an environmentally responsible manner, with strong wildlife protections guiding the selection of project locations and requirements for best management practices in pre-development, construction, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning activities; and
WHEREAS, offshore wind structures attached to the seafloor have the potential to create valuable marine habitat for fish, corals, invertebrates, and other marine life that could provide ongoing long-term benefits to the marine environment and ecosystem if preserved as part of the lifecycle and decommissioning plans for offshore wind structures; and
WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of the Interior launched an offshore renewable energy leasing program in 2010 and continues to auction significant acreage on the Outer Continental Shelf, and whereas relevant state agencies may pursue offshore wind in the Great Lakes; and
WHEREAS, National Wildlife Federation recognizes that some areas are unsuitable for offshore wind development; and
WHEREAS, National Wildlife Federation approaches this work with a regional lens and works in partnership with affiliates and other key partners to build and demonstrate support for appropriately sited and responsibly developed, operated, and decommissioned offshore wind; and
WHEREAS, responsible development, operation, and decommissioning of offshore wind means appropriate siting; strong wildlife protections under applicable statutes that protect wildlife and ensure strong public input, such as the National Environmental Policy Act, and continued research and monitoring of possible effects upon wildlife and fisheries to guide further development; inclusive and transparent stakeholder engagement and obtaining Free, Prior, and Informed consent from Tribes and Indigenous peoples; economic inclusion through equitable access to economic benefits; any negative impacts of offshore wind and associated infrastructure on environmental justice communities are minimized; and economic justice through the creation of accessible, high-quality, family-sustaining jobs.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, at its Annual Meeting assembled June 21-24, 2023, supports the responsible development of offshore wind power as a critical component of achieving a clean energy future for America that is needed to protect wildlife populations and their habitats, and people across all states and nations from the dangerous effects of climate change; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that National Wildlife Federation calls on the U.S. Department of the Interior to ensure that the offshore wind power leasing and permitting process includes inclusive and transparent stakeholder engagement and obtaining Free, Prior, and Informed consent from Tribes and Indigenous peoples, requirements for labor standards and community benefits, and strong and effective protections for wildlife populations during the pre-development, construction, operations, maintenance, and decommissioning stages. This includes identification of potential wildlife, fisheries and ecosystem impacts early in the leasing process, and thorough review of specific development proposals in order to avoid, minimize, and mitigate environmental impacts from offshore wind development and associated infrastructure; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that National Wildlife Federation calls on the U.S. Department of the Interior to develop regulations for the permitting and decommissioning of offshore wind structures attached to the sea floor that recognize the potential positive impacts of habitat created by these structures and maximize the preservation of this habitat through advance planning for both the permitting and decommissioning of such structures to facilitate the retention of offshore habitat created by these structures; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that National Wildlife Federation calls on the U.S Congress to continue to support offshore wind power investment and production tax credits that minimize ratepayer impacts from offshore wind development, appropriate sufficient funds to federal agencies to ensure thorough environmental review of proposed projects; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that National Wildlife Federation also calls on the U.S. Congress to pass legislation that shares revenue from offshore wind lease auctions with states and/or allocates proceeds to the federal government in order to: support research and monitoring of impacts to fisheries, wildlife and habitat; support workforce development and domestic supply chains for the offshore wind industry; support research and development to drive innovation in technology such as improvement of recycling of turbine components after decommissioning, offset ratepayer impacts; deliver benefits to potentially impacted communities, and ensure a just transition; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that National Wildlife Federation calls on federal and state agencies and offshore wind power developers to ensure that local communities have decision-making power to: minimize negative impacts of, and maximize benefits from, onshore infrastructure development including port facilities, transmission, and cable landings; create equitable access to economic opportunities and high-quality jobs in historically disadvantaged communities; invest in a robust and inclusive domestic supply chain for offshore wind development; and protect low-income ratepayers from disproportionate economic impacts; and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that National Wildlife Federation calls on Governors and other policymakers in states pursuing offshore wind to take actions necessary to ensure that responsible offshore wind power plays a major role in their energy future.