Sharing the Benefits of Offshore Wind in Massachusetts
Jessica Wright¹, Nicolas Schneider¹, Lucy Peterson², Tara K. Miller³, Leticia Lee¹, Lucila J. Houttuijn Bloemendaal¹, Beth M. Haley⁴
¹Boston University (BU) Department of Earth and Environment
²BU Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
³BU Department of Biology
⁴BU Department of Environmental Health
The Policy Problem (and Opportunity)
In the face of climate change, governments are grappling with how to provide a secure supply of renewable energy to replace fossil fuels. Offshore wind development holds great promise to generate clean energy while creating jobs and building local economies. Although there are currently only seven wind turbines on the east coast of the United States, the US offshore wind industry expects to increase its power generation capacity 15-fold by 2040. Massachusetts (MA) is at the forefront of this expansion: in May of 2021, the U.S. Government issued approval for the first large-scale offshore wind project in the country, consisting of 62 turbines off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard. Total infrastructure investment in MA supporting the offshore wind energy industry is over $660 million, not including investment in workforce development. The complex and sometimes opposing views of diverse stakeholders including environmental activists, fisheries groups, oceanfront property owners, and natural gas workers has contributed to delays in passing legislation in Massachusetts to guide this burgeoning industry.
Massachusetts Case Study
In early 2022, the Massachusetts House and Senate passed H.4524/S.2842 (An Act Advancing Offshore Wind and Clean Energy), which would be the first major bill advancing offshore wind energy in the state since 2016, if signed by the governor. While this bill focuses on three main areas — electric sector transformation, educational opportunity, and wildlife conservation — it does not ensure equitable distribution of the benefits of offshore wind development. In this policy brief, we recommend changes to the bill to address this imbalance by 1) broadening representation of underserved communities among leadership, 2) deepening educational, training, and employment opportunities, and 3) improving information sharing during offshore wind development.
Proposed Modifications
Increase representation of impacted communities among leadership: To advance environmental justice goals and ensure that potential offshore wind developments do not usurp underwater cultural heritage, traditional fishing grounds, or other Tribal areas, representatives from these communities need to constitute at least half of the members of the environmental and fisheries working groups established by this bill. Representatives from these communities should also be included in the allocation of funds from the Massachusetts Offshore Wind Industry Investment Trust Fund, also established by this bill, to ensure equitable reinvestment of offshore wind tax revenue in underserved communities. The economic and energy benefits of offshore wind development in Massachusetts should be shared equitably, with particular consideration for Tribal Nations, fishery communities, and environmental justice communities.
Provide equitable education and training: We recommend that the bill stipulate that a majority of education and job training investment go to underserved communities. Offshore wind energy development will also require significant investment in a relevant workforce, from skilled marine technicians to oceanographers and meteorologists. Several successful programs have been developed in other regions, such as the Blue Economy Immersion Program. This 3-day summer immersion program for high school students provides insight into the blue economy, jobs, and hands-on skills. Massachusetts K-12 schools, community colleges and universities, particularly those with majority minority populations, can host similar job training and certification programs that prepare students from historically marginalized communities to join the development of MA offshore wind, both onshore and offshore.
Invest in career transition programs: Essential components of a comprehensive transition plan, such as the California plan, include a buyout program for retiring gas workers, management of a shrinking gas workforce to safely maintain gas infrastructure during the transition period, and wage protection and training for transitioning gas workers. Investment in transitioning gas workers as well as new employment opportunities created by the offshore wind industry–jobs ranging from manufacturing, construction, and installation to fuel extraction, supply, and transmission–must be equitably available to people of color, women, and other underserved communities. Collaboration with existing fossil fuel energy employees throughout the planning and implementation of renewable energy projects will be crucial to community buy-in and continued success, and should be considered in the offshore wind development bill.
Disseminate scientific data collected: We also recommend that the data and information generated through offshore wind development be made publicly available so that communities and institutions can better understand their area’s resources and needs. For example, the lease agreement could stipulate that the seafloor mapping and characterization data collected, as well as habitat data of marine species, be shared publicly once the data have met the needs of the offshore wind developers. Such data could improve our scientific understanding of our waters, and inform other sectors (such as fisheries) to help these communities develop ecosystem-based management strategies.
