Whale Buffer Zone Could Thwart Gigawatts of US Offshore Wind

By Jennifer A. Dlouhy (Bloomberg) — October 25, 2023

Nearly 3 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity could be imperiled if the US government imposes a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) buffer zone blocking turbines in endangered whale foraging areas near Martha’s Vineyard, the American Clean Power Association said Wednesday.

The clean energy advocacy group said those potential restrictions — floated by US government scientists and endorsed by some conservationists — aren’t necessary based on limited existing scientific knowledge about the interaction between wind turbines and the marine ecosystems below the surface.

A white paper commissioned by the association concludes that climate change and natural variables — not the wind turbines — are likely to drive greater shifts in water movements and the density of tiny crustaceans that are a prime source of food for the North Atlantic right whale. A separate analysis published by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine last week cited significant uncertainty.

“This issue doesn’t warrant dramatically reducing the size of wind energy areas. It warrants further study,” said Josh Kaplowitz, the association’s vice president of offshore wind. “We can’t afford to delay offshore wind projects or threaten their viability each time uncertainty is raised.”

Kaplowitz pointed to a ruling by the Washington, DC-based federal circuit court concluding that government regulators can make decisions about endangered species impacts based on what is “likely” to occur, rather than “indulging in worst-case scenarios and pessimistic assumptions.”

The potential reduction represents about a tenth of President Joe Biden’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity by the end of the decade, further challenging ambitions already under pressure from rising costs and supply-chain woes.

The proposed Nantucket Shoals buffer zone could have an impact on several potential offshore wind projects, including Equinor ASA and BP Plc’s Beacon Wind, and SouthCoast, backed by Shell New Energies US LLC and Ocean Winds.

https://gcaptain.com/whale-buffer-zone-could-thwart-gigawatts-of-us-offshore-wind/

MARAD Warns Ships of ‘Multiple Projectiles’ in Red Sea

Mike Schuler October 24, 2023

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) has issued an alert to commercial ships warning them of the threat of “multiple projectiles” that have been launched from Yemen into the Red Sea.

The warning comes after the Pentagon confirmed that the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Carney had shot down multiple land attack cruise missiles and several drones launched by Houthi forces in Yemen last week.

“We cannot say for certain what these missiles and drones were targeting, but they were launched heading north along the Red Sea potentially towards targets in Israel,” Pentagon Press Secretary, Air Force Brig. Gen Pat Ryder said in a statement on October 19.

MARAD’s full alert is posted below and can also be found here.

“There are reports that multiple drones and missiles were launched from Yemen into the Red Sea region on October 19, 2023. Exercise caution when transiting this area. U.S. commercial vessels operating in this area should review U.S. Maritime Advisory 2023-011 (Threats to Commercial Vessels – Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden, Bab al Mandeb Strait, Red Sea, and Somali Basin) for amplifying information and points of contact. This Alert will automatically expire on October 30, 2023. Any maritime industry questions regarding this alert should be directed to GMCC@uscg.mil.”

The alert is currently the only active U.S. Maritime Alert posted to MARAD’s website, although there are a number of Maritime Advisories that are showing as currently active.

https://gcaptain.com/marad-warns-ships-of-multiple-projectiles-in-red-sea/

>>19802106

>>19802454

16?, like a typical Tuesday Night in Chicago? A typical Wednesday Night in Los Angeles? The Thursday Weekend Warm-up for Atlanta?