How will wind farms affect marine life?

• Position: Renewable Energy

Offshore wind farms will allow renewable energy to be generated with little or no carbon dioxide emissions, but little is known about how they could impact the marine species living and migrating along the coast. A study led by the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Solomons, will help state and Federal decisionmakers better understand where whales, dolphins, and porpoises occur along the coast of Ocean City and how they use this habitat. This information will assist in determining the best way to develop wind farms in order to minimize disruption or harm to marine life in the area.

"Determining patterns of marine mammal occurrence is a critical first step in order to determine any potential effects that offshore wind energy development might have on the behavior and ecology of resident or migratory species," says Helen Bailey, the study's lead scientist who also has studied the impact of wind farm construction noise on marine life off the coast of Scotland.

Offshore wind farms are key to creating a renewable energy mix. However, potential negative impacts on marine species could include habitat loss, collision risk, and harmful effects from increased noise and electromagnetic...