Fishermen keep fighting against offshore turbines

It’s a fishing story that’s not being told.

That is how some members of the North Carolina For-Hire Captain’s Association (NCFHCA) feel about what they see as a threat offshore wind turbines would pose to the local fishing industry, economy, wildlife and environment.

The United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) auctioned off two lease areas for wind energy 22 miles south of Bald Head Island in Carolina Long Bay in May 2022. The winning bids by TotalEnergies Carolina Long Bay (formerly TotalEnergies Renewables USA, LLC) and Cinergy Corp (formerly Duke Energy Renewables Wind, LLC) totaled approximately $315 million.

These areas include 110,091 acres off North Carolina and South Carolina. If developed, they could result in at least 1.3 gigawatts, enough to power 500,000 homes, according to BOEM.

“No matter how we feel or whatever, the feds are shoving this down our throat and it doesn’t matter what we say,” said Capt. Cane Faircloth, a NCFHCA board member who handles media, public relations and marketing for the association of about 300 people.

The subject is dear to the heart of Dr. Nick Degennaro of Southport, who has worked in the offshore industry for 30 years and has a doctorate in commercial engineering from the University of Rhode Island. He is opposed to offshore wind energy.

This issue is so important to him, “because it’s going to destroy the ocean,” he said. Degennaro said areas that have offshore wind turbines become “dead zones” for fishing.

And there is also the aesthetics of it to which some object. NCFHCA’s president, Capt. John Dosher, said, “I don’t want (Southport) to be looking at thousand-foot turbines with lights on them, floating out there offshore.”

‘Stop future ones?’

Proponents of offshore wind see it as a cost-competitive, carbon-free addition to the state’s electricity grid, bringing economic benefit. A Southeastern Wind Coalition report in 2022 found that offshore wind could net North Carolina $4.6 billion.

Developing an offshore wind project is a lengthy process. The Carolina Long Bay projects are currently in the pre-development and permitting phase, which can span six to eight years before construction begins.

At this early stage, the number of turbine locations has not been finalized. The two lease areas combined could potentially support up to approximately 120 turbines with a nameplate capacity of up to approximately 2,400 megawatts, according to TotalEnergies.

Wind energy and how to fight it took up the majority of the discussion at the NCFHCA’s first meeting of the year March 21 at Indian Trail Meeting Hall in Southport.

“Can we stop the two wind farms that are going to be built offshore here? Probably not,” Faircloth said. “But can we possibly stop future ones? Yes. Can we have a say in the game of where they put them at in the future? Yes.”

Faircloth said BOEM leased out “the worst possible area they could put it for fishermen in the Cape Fear area. Thirteen endangered species live there. I mean, they picked the worst possible place.”

He said wind energy “could decimate our industry and also our tourism industry, which scares us the most. Of course, we don’t want to see the fishing industry go away. It’s such a big part of our heritage but, I mean, tourism is our main economic generator here in Brunswick County and all of the coastal counties in North Carolina. It’s our golden goose.”

TotalEnergies said BOEM and the state, in identifying the lease areas, had assessed the needs of ocean users such as fishers, the United States military and vessel operators. “As a result, the lease areas are sited in an area with relatively low commercial fishing efforts and thus lower impacts to fisheries,” said TotalEnergies.

Any proposed activities will undergo extensive environmental review at the state and federal levels prior to action, said TotalEnergies. The federal review process, TotalEnergies stated, will offer additional opportunities for stakeholder input and measures will be implemented to mitigate environmental impacts that cannot be avoided.

Bald Head Island

Wind energy critics have said offshore wind turbines affect water quality, change currents and pose hazards to wildlife. Some of them have complained that their side of the story is being silenced by the media and social media.

“We cannot get the word out because the media will not allow us to get the word out,” said Degennaro.

The Village of Bald Head Island’s position on offshore wind energy was summarized in the most recent issue of the e-newsletter Village’s Voice.

“The Village is concerned that the lack of consideration of those most impacted by proposed wind projects will adversely affect not only the view from the Village’s idyllic beaches but also the environment and habitat, such as those of seabirds,” the summary states. “Further, the proposed developments will adversely impact ocean traffic, such as barges and ferries, that the Village relies on for a connection to the U.S. mainland. Commercial and recreational fishing opportunities may also be impacted by significant offshore development due to interruptions in fish and other wildlife behavior.

“The Village remains supportive of renewable energy development but also strongly supports accountability and solutions that implement the least intrusive measures possible.”

Southport Mayor Rich Alt, who attended the NCFHCA meeting as a private citizen, said the city has not taken a position on wind energy. Commenting in an unofficial capacity, he wrote in a text message that he would welcome a forum in which informed people from both sides could make their cases “in a civil and moderated venue. How one picks the right speakers who are not zealots on either side of the discussion would be problematic. Southport might just have a citizen population now that would welcome real intellectual debate.”

TotalEnergies said there will be “many opportunities for stakeholder input throughout the process and we will continue our engagement with interested individuals and groups.”

Jennifer Garber, director of communications for Duke Energy, said Duke Energy sees the potential need for offshore wind in the mid-2030s. “As we continue to assess the area and project potential, we look forward to listening and learning from diverse stakeholders and community members in the region to ensure we are being thoughtful about all aspects of the potential project.”

The next step for NCFHCA may be going to court.

“Spend (money) on getting a good lawyer,” Degennaro advised. “That’s the first thing you want to do. That’s really your answer.”

“That may be the route we need to go,” said Faircloth said.