Off sure wind turbine.
The Carbon Trust, in partnership with Virginia-based claims resolution firm BrownGreer, will design and develop the Offshore Wind Fisheries Compensation Fund on the US East Coast. Therefore, the commercial and recreational for-hire fishing community will be financially compensated for the impacts of offshore wind energy.
In recent years, the fishing community, offshore wind developers, and 11 East Coast states have been working together to make this program a reality. The Carbon Trust and BrownGreer will work with these states and other stakeholders to begin the design and development stage.
Specifically, all participants in this initiative will establish the Design Oversight Committee (DOC) and the For-Hire Committee (FHC) to provide advice and guidance.
Regarding this fact, Carbon Trust Director Jan Matthiesen said: "We are excited to build on our existing work in the US to support the development of offshore wind in collaborative and sustainable ways in this partnership with BrownGreer. Our work will focus on building a transparent, accessible, and equitable process that paves the way for fishing and offshore wind to coexist."
Moreover, BrownGreer Partner Orran Brown Jr expressed: "We are honored by our selection with the Carbon Trust to serve the fishing communities, developers, and states participating in this innovative and historic initiative. As a neutral administrator, we are advocates not for any one stakeholder but for the best overall solutions, and we are excited to lend our experience and expertise to this critical program."
According to NOAA Fisheries, the construction and operation of wind turbines could impact commercial, recreational, and tribal fishing:
Displacing fishermen from traditional fishing areas.
Changing the distribution, abundance, and species composition of fish in an area.
Causing economic losses.
Increasing vessel traffic and competition for support services on shore.
Disrupting vessel radar systems.
Damaging or destroying fishing gear.
Reducing safety at sea from increased vessel traffic and navigation challenges.
The Carbon Trust is a United Kingdom-based consultancy established in March 2001. It aims to accelerate the pace of private sector decarbonization and increase energy efficiency.
It gathers a global team of more than 400 environmental sustainability experts including engineers, financiers, and policy specialists, working with diverse industries and business sectors around the world.