‘What’s Up with Offshore Wind?’ Webinar Series Set to Launch in September
Three-part webinar event will provide attendees with practical information for taking action in support of responsible offshore wind development.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 23, 2023
Contact:
Jennifer Delony, New England for Offshore Wind
jdelony@ne4osw.org, 603.320.7043
BOSTON – August 23, 2023 – The New England for Offshore Wind (@NE4OSW) coalition and League of Women Voters of Massachusetts (@LWVMA) will co-host a three-part webinar series starting in September to help attendees learn about the value of critical East Coast offshore wind projects to our climate goals and what is threatening their timely deployment.
“We want our community members to understand why misleading messaging prevalent in the Northeast offshore wind sector is jeopardizing our work to meet Massachusetts’ 2030 climate targets,” said Launa Zimmaro, LWVMA Climate and Energy Legislative Specialist. “Attendees will learn best practices for setting the record straight about this important clean energy resource and leave at the end of the series with access to a practical offshore wind communications guide and social media tool kit so they can identify and counter deceptive messaging practices.”
About the Series
What’s Up with Offshore Wind? Current Status, Future Plans, Getting It Done will take you on a deep dive into the Northeast’s offshore wind industry. The three-part series will begin with an overview of offshore wind projects in East Coast federal waters, how they will help states meet their climate goals and what is threatening their timely deployment. Session two will build on the industry overview by taking a closer look at the costs and benefits of offshore wind projects in the development pipeline and the critical mitigation measures that are built into each project’s construction and operations plan. The webinar series will culminate in session three with a breakdown of some of the top conflicts and obstacles project developers face today. Along this educational journey into offshore wind and its role in our clean energy transition, you will receive practical information for taking action to support responsible project development in ways that work for you. Co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and New England for Offshore Wind.
Conflicts and Solutions: Overcoming Offshore Wind Opposition
January 18, 2024
4:00-5:00 p.m. EST
Register https://bit.ly/osw-three
Supporting responsible offshore wind development means understanding the best pathway for achieving our climate goals while ensuring people, wildlife and the environment are treated with dignity and respect. Continuous and rigorous engagement between stakeholders can raise awareness of the best environmental practices, community needs and equitable economic opportunities that can come with responsibly developed offshore wind. However, misleading information and intentionally deceptive campaigns about offshore wind make it more difficult to find the right balance of environmentally sound and equitable development with climate imperatives.
In the final installment of What’s Up with Offshore Wind?, you will learn about opposition messaging prevalent in the Northeast offshore wind sector and best practices for setting the record straight about this important clean energy resource. You will leave with access to a practical messaging guide and social media tool kit to help you identify and counter deceptive messaging practices.
PAST EVENTS
Collaboration and Ambition: Where Offshore Wind Stands Now
September 14, 2023
The global scientific community has issued a dire warning about the urgent effects of climate change and the need to cut greenhouse gas emissions by nearly half in the next six years. States have increased their ambition on climate change by setting aggressive renewable energy targets, and they are turning to offshore wind as a stable and cost-effective solution to meet them. At the same time, policy makers, environmentalists and communities are working together to make sure our offshore wind resources are developed responsibly and in a timely manner. However, project development hurdles and opposition campaigns threaten our critical clean energy progress.
In the first installment of What’s Up with Offshore Wind?, you will learn about the status of offshore wind projects in the Northeast, the red flags of misinformation and disinformation about offshore wind development, and the small actions you can take that can have a big impact on offshore wind’s success.
Opportunities and Obstacles: Costs and Benefits of Offshore Wind
November 16, 2023
The deployment of offshore wind projects in federal waters off the U.S. East Coast is central to the Northeast states’ near-term climate and energy goals, but reaching those goals cannot come at the expense of people, wildlife and the environment.
In the second installment of What’s Up with Offshore Wind?, you will learn about the costs and benefits of offshore wind projects in the development pipeline and how project developers plan to protect people, wildlife and the environment, and how stakeholders are working to ensure those plans rely on best practices founded in sound science and data; respect marginalized and overburdened communities; and drive economic justice for all.