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US election: Offshore wind energy, what's the big deal?

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By illuminem briefings

· 2 min read


illuminem summarizes for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on Deutsche Welle or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: Offshore wind energy is expanding globally as a solution to reduce emissions, yet opposition is growing, fueled by claims about its impact on property values, marine life, and local economies
High-profile critics, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, have linked offshore wind to ecological harm and energy costs, claims that are largely unsupported by evidence

🔭 The context: Offshore wind is a crucial part of the clean energy transition, particularly in Europe, the U.S., and Australia, where ocean winds offer consistent power generation
Activists in countries like the U.S. cite whale safety concerns, while studies suggest that fossil fuel interests are funding opposition groups to maintain market share

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Expanding offshore wind is essential to meeting climate targets, with projections calling for 2,500 GW by 2050 to limit global warming to 1.5°C
Delays or restrictions on offshore wind could hinder decarbonization efforts, especially as other fossil fuel and nuclear options remain costlier and slower to deploy

⏭️ What's next: While some regions like the U.K. and Germany have low opposition due to transparent consultations, U.S. resistance may intensify with upcoming political debates and local opposition campaigns
Efforts in Australia suggest a coordinated global push against offshore wind, potentially slowing renewable expansion

💬 One quote: “These talking points reflect the claims coming out of the U.S. People have a common-sense care for nature. That gets manipulated by these false claims,” - Patrick Simons of Yes2Renewables

📈 One stat: Offshore wind capacity grew tenfold from 2013 to 2023, reaching 75.2 GW; to meet climate goals, capacity will need to grow to 2,500 GW by 2050

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