Three in-person public meetings later this month will provide opportunities for the pubic and various interest groups to comment on federal proposals to build wind-energy platforms off the southern Oregon coast.
The meetings coincide with the start of an extended, 60-day public review and comment period regarding the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s proposal to create to so-called “call areas” for development of floating offshore wind-energy platforms.
The in-person meetings are scheduled for:
- 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26 in Gold Beach at the Event Center at the Beach, 29392 Ellensburg Ave.;
- 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 in Coos Bay at the Coos Bay Public Library, 525 Anderson Ave.; and
- 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 28 in Brookings at Southwest Oregon Community College’s Curry Campus’ Commons Room, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway.
The decision to double what is normally a 30-day public comment period drew support from most of the state’s congressional delegation.
“Renewable energy is an essential piece of the strategy to combat the climate crisis,” Sen. Ron Wyden said in a statement Wednesday. “However, local communities and fishermen have to be at the center for decisions about offshore wind projects that affect their livelihoods.”
A number of public and private groups have criticized what they call the fast pace of the federal effort, which seeks to establish wind platforms off the southern Oregon coast capable of generating 2.6 gigawatts of electricity, enough to power about 195,000 homes.
If built, it’s estimated that the two areas would help meet a state legislative goal of generating at least 3 gigawatts of electricity from offshore wind by 2030.
I would like critics of these wind projects to show up at these meetings armed with some factual evidence of the harms they claim the wind turbines will cause rather than generic whining and complaining. The fishing industry keeps complaining about these things, but I have yet to hear any solid factual scientific evidence that the industry will be harmed.