Wyden, DeFazio urge feds to move offshore wind 'Call Areas' to protect Oregon fisheries

COOS BAY, Ore. - The two most senior members of Oregon's Congressional delegation voiced concerns about the ongoing process to locate offhsore wind facilities off the south Oregon Coast in a letter to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Wednesday.

“I strongly support the use of renewable energy alternatives, like wind, solar, wave, and thermal energy, to address the climate crisis, but the installation of these alternatives cannot be to the detriment of vitally important fisheries, mariner safety, near- and on-shore habitat, and endangered marine species," said Rep. Peter DeFazio, D-Oregon. "Any offshore wind leasing near Coos Bay and Brookings will have a significant impact on these coastal communities and the Pacific Coast ecosystem, but BOEM has a troubling history of ignoring the most immediate stakeholders on this issue."

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“Fishing is an integral and iconic part of the coastal economy with job-creating benefits that ripple into communities throughout Oregon,” added Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Oregon. “That’s why I’m working to make sure federal officials listen to concerned coastal officials and don’t inadvertently damage this core Oregon industry so it can continue to provide economic and recreation opportunities for generations to come.”

The federal agency has issued "Call Areas" for possible offshore wind leasing off the Oregon Coast near Coos Bay and Brookings.

DeFazio and Wyden say the agency needs to address the concerns of coastal residents and stakeholders before moving forward with leasing.

In the letter, DeFazio and Wyden call for a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for wind energy off the entire Pacific Coast "to address critical data gaps on environmental impact, to move the Oregon Call Areas beyond a 1300-meter depth to minimize the impact on sustainable fishing operations, formally consult with all relevant stakeholders throughout the siting process, and fully collaborate with federal partners."

The lawmakers wrote:

“The seafood industry is economically critical to Oregon as a whole, and especially Oregon’s coastal communities. . . Fishing grounds have been steadily shrinking for decades and coastal communities up and down the Pacific coast continue to suffer economic and cultural loss. Further limiting Oregon’s fishing industry from the productive fishing grounds in the current Call Areas could spell economic disaster for these towns that have relied on harvesting seafood for generations.”

Commercial fishing and recreation groups joined the lawmakers in calling for another look at the Call Areas.

“Oregonians and coastal users have spoken, calling for more comprehensive analysis to address data gaps for wildlife, fisheries and user conflicts with the call areas," said Charlie Plybon, Oregon Policy Director, Surfrider Foundation. "It's important that BOEM's process meets these concerns and builds trust and transparency through opportunities for engagement and collaboration at the ground level.”

“It does not make sense to risk an environmental catastrophe and create a food security issue trying to solve the climate crisis," said Heather Mann, Executive Director, Midwater Trawlers Cooperative. "BOEM must slow down this process and the environmental and economic impacts must be known and understood upfront before leases are issued – at the end of the process, which is the current plan, is too late."