Abstract
Interest in offshore wind energy has increased in recent years due to improvements in technology, consumer and investor confidence, advances in technology, and increased interest in low carbon energy sources. Global production of offshore wind surpassed 18 GW of installed capacity in 2017 (Global Wind Energy Council, 2019). By 2050, the International Renewable Energy Association estimates that installed capacity will increase by 501.8 GW (IRENA, 2018). As of 2018, there were a total of 105 grid-connected offshore wind farms in Europe, and one grid-connected commercial offshore wind farm in the United States (Selot et al., 2019; United States Department of Energy, 2019). There are currently 15 active offshore wind leases in the United States, totaling 21 GW of capacity (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management 2019) that could lead to further domestic development. There are additional plans to open up leasing opportunities in California, Oregon, and Washington.
According to Pew Research Center (2016), 83% of Americans support more development of wind farms. Despite this large support, project development in local communities still faces many hurdles, both in the public and permitting spheres (Storrow 2019; Gloden 2018). A successful project on the West Coast not only faces technological stressors but must also successfully work with local communities and government agencies to address concerns, impacts, and potential community benefits. Understanding the human dimensions of renewable energy development is pivotal not only for project completion, but also for the monetary bottom line as delays in permitting and development processes can drive up project costs (Goodrich et al. 2012). This document explores the literature related to stakeholder perceptions of offshore wind energy both in Europe and the United States. Key lessons are offered to aid future development of renewable energy both in California and beyond