Coos County voters will get a chance to weigh in on whether or not commissioners should actively oppose offshore wind development along the southern Oregon coast.
Coos County commissioners unanimously approved putting a non-binding question on the November ballot. They want guidance from voters on whether the county should oppose floating offshore wind development.
The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is planning to lease two sections of ocean to alternative energy companies starting in October. One area off the coast of Coos and Douglas counties is 95 square miles. The other, off the coast of Curry County, spans 209 square miles of ocean. BOEM says the power generated from massive wind turbines in both areas could power over a million homes.
During their meeting Tuesday, Commissioner Rod Taylor said he believes this vote will give them a mandate to continue the county’s opposition to offshore wind.
“I think it’s something upon which the majority of people in the county are united, regardless of ideology,” he said. “This is not an ideological question. This is a practical question.”
But, Commissioner John Sweet questioned public sentiment. He said that they’ve assumed the vast majority of the county opposes offshore wind.
“Our circle is not that big,” Sweet said. “This could very easily come back contrary to what you just said. I’d like to know for sure I’m on the right path.”
County commissioners have been opposed to offshore wind development over concerns about impacts to the fishing industry, and the economic and environmental cost of delivering the power where it needs to go. That includes possible wildfire risk from the high-voltage power lines needed to bring power from the coast to major population centers, and who will pay for those transmission lines.
Curry County commissioners will also consider approving a similar ballot measure Wednesday night. Neither measure would force commissioners to do anything, they’re only designed to gauge public opinion.
Windmills on the ocean are a bad environmental deal for Oregon. They come apart and who is responsible for the salvage of these monstrousities in the ocean. The ocean is for fish and fishing and not for energy that costs more to produce than the energy it sells.
Ok, wind power is cheaper than conventional electrical generation (linked below)
Also, it’s not like the windmills kill the fish. It’s just going to act like another marine preserve. We know from other places on the coast that the marine preserves increase the catchable fish.