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No ocean wind turbines along Oregon’s Southern Coast

Posted on December 17, 2024

Coos Bay, OR — Oregonians Against Wind Turbines (OAWT) has long been at the forefront of opposing the massive offshore wind energy development proposed for Oregon’s southern coast. Supported by both the state of Oregon and the federal government, this project would place hundreds of towering wind turbines in near-shore ocean waters off Coos and Curry Counties. These turbines are designed to be as tall as the Empire State Building, disrupting the local environment and community. 

The fight to stop this wind energy development has been a surprise to many South Coast residents, but for OAWT, the opposition began in earnest long before the 2024 proposals gained attention. Efforts to develop ocean energy in Oregon date back to 2013, when the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) received an unsolicited proposal from Oregon State University (OSU) to study the potential of wave energy offshore Newport, OR. The OSU’s Pacific Marine Energy Center, or PacWave, was initially seen as a small-scale research initiative aimed at advancing clean energy.

However, as OAWT’s founders emphasize, things have dramatically changed since then. By 2024, BOEM’s proposal to lease 200,000 acres of near-shore ocean waters for a massive industrial-scale wind turbine project has sparked overwhelming opposition. The vast majority of Coos and Curry County residents now view the proposal as detrimental to their communities. In fact, during the November 5, 2024 elections, local voters decisively rejected the project, with more than 30,000 voters voicing their opposition through Ballot Measures 8-116 and 6-219.

“Thanks to the leadership in Coos and Curry counties, more than 30,000 voters sent a clear message to BOEM: ‘NO OCEAN WIND TURBINES ALONG OREGON’S SOUTHERN COAST,’” said Rob Taylor, OAWT Co-Founder.

Voters are increasingly skeptical of the project, citing what they see as flawed science and poor economic projections. Many feel the proposed wind turbines are based on unreliable scientific data, as the projections have not been grounded in actual construction or operational experience. As a result, wind energy developers are struggling to estimate the true costs and risks of the project, leaving taxpayers and electricity consumers to bear the burden. The concern is that the government will step in to shield developers from financial failure through higher electricity rates, subsidies, and reimbursements.

Diane Rich, OAWT Co-Founder, adds, “The proposed wind turbine project is neither green nor economically viable. It would result in skyrocketing electric bills—up to 3 to 4 times higher for utility customers—and it’s based on bad science and questionable financial assumptions.”

While the victory on November 5 is a significant win for local residents, OAWT leaders caution that the fight is far from over. “We didn’t win the battle; we’ve won a step toward victory,” said Taylor.

Despite the strong local opposition, BOEM still has the power to push forward with the project without the transparency and oversight typically required for such large-scale developments. In fact, BOEM can still accept non-competitive, unsolicited proposals from developers—meaning future wind turbine proposals could bypass local planning controls and public involvement.

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