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Wind energy project off Morro Bay paused after Trump’s win

December 15, 2024

Floating windmill designs

By KAREN VELIE

Update: Representatives of Equinor said the current pause of the offshore wind farm was not impacted by President-elect Donald Trump’s election. Calls prior to publication of the article were not returned.

Original: Energy giant Equinor paused its plan to build an offshore wind farm off the coast of Morro Bay following President-elect Donald Trump’s victory.

The Norwegian-based primarily oil and gas corporation plans to continue fulfilling its local lease conditions while suspending some operations for the next two to three years, according to communications from company representatives to Central Coast fisherman. Equinor recently canceled wind energy projects in Vietnam, Spain and Portugal.

In 2022, the federal government auctioned off three offshore wind energy sites located between 20 and 30 miles off the coast near Morro Bay. Then in Dec. 2023, the state issued Equinor a permit allowing survey work to begin.

Even though the California Coastal Commission determined that site survey activities would not affect fish and other marine species, local fishermen reported catch numbers down 67% to 70% while Equinor did sonar work off the coast earlier this year. Fisherman groups have filed several legal challenges against the international energy conglomerate.

Trump has vowed to end offshore wind energy projects his first day in office.

Trump ran on lowering housing and energy costs. During his campaign speeches, he described offshore wind energy as “the most expensive energy there is.” He noted environmental concerns such as whale and bird deaths.

“We are going to make sure that that ends on day one,” Trump said during a campaign speech. “I’m going to write it out in an executive order. It’s going to end on day one.”

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What a relief! Those turbines are a disaster waiting to happen, they cost ridiculous money, and they disrupt the wildlife. The Bureau of Offshore Energy Management even admitted they would do NOTHING to improve the climate change crisis. We need real answers, not ones that cost astronomically more than we can afford and have the added burden of shredding and destroying our environment. Even the sonic testing that was being done destroys the wildlife. Just ask the fishermen if you don’t believe me.


How about instead of that ridiculous rip-off project, we just place some of the tulip shaped windmills onshore in several various places around the county? They are cute, colorful, a lot smaller and waaay more efficient. Nowhere near as tall, either. They work in a lot less and a lot more wind than gigantor blades as well, by the way. And rather cute, actually. With little or no chance of shedding birds. And no astronomically expensive, environment destroying, vibe killing industrialized onshore infrastructure.


Much more cost effective, much wider operational parameters, infinitely better looking. Safer for wildlife. An actual green project. So, why not be doing that in the first place? We hardly ever have a day without wind. Clean energy is totally possible, we just have to be a hella lot smarter about it.


28

Because there is not near the giant dollars involved, with “cute” or efficient windmills.


-4

As expected and feared – Trump (and many of his self-centered idiot congressional supporters) gets back into power and immediately plans to destroy our nation, setting it back 100 years. Make America Grovel Again. He belongs in a padded room for the rest of his life to protect our nation. The grand “United States” no longer exists. The world is rapidly leaving us in the dust.


-72

Convicted guilty on 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records related to having an affair with a pornstar, and yet y’all still trust him to have your best interests at heart… At this pont I can safely say the shame is on you!


-65

The fact that people down vote somebody stating the truth is astounding. The fact that anybody would trust him or his band of dolts reflects what low IQ voting does for this country. Trusting a pathological liar with running our country is insane.

Being a convicted criminal should eliminate anyone from possible being president.


-28

No matter where the money comes from it will ultimately be paid back in full, plus profits, by the rate payers. Additionally, the fisheries and their navigation will get altered, resulting various consequences. If this hold is because of Trump, then we too have dodged a bullet.


52

Technological progress has stopped now Trumps is in office. We go back while the rest of the world moves forewords.


-81

It seems to be more about cost than Trump. I wouldn’t think he has any influence on Spain, Portugal or Vietnam.


From the linked article:


“With regard to offshore wind, “it’s getting more and more expensive, and we think things are going to take more time in quite a few markets around the world,” Eitrheim was as saying. He added that Equinor may pull out from more markets.”


4

Sadly the rest of the world just emulates what we do so… many, many steps backwards for everyone. Heard about “Neom” or “The Line” specifically? An environmental disaster for the entire planet!


-62

Wind turbines need 700 gallons of oil to lubricate the gear box.

The carbon fiber blades can not be recycled and must be dumped in landfills. Environmentally friendly?

I don’t think so.


87

Because everything else in the landfill producrs energy? There are multiple companies developing the technology to make them recyclable. Wind turbines create some of the lowest lifetime emissions among power generation technologies. I pray we get the renewable energy we deserve.


-64

More energy is used for windmills, from mining to manufacture to erecting to maintenance to removal, than what they produce in their lifespan. At best, windmills produce less than 35% of their rating. No wind, too much wind, broken parts, and leaking oils all contribute to zero energy production times. Solar doesn’t work at night, nor on cloudy days, nor when the snow piles on, and production is cut exponentially for the amount of dust and debris accumulated.


I always giggle at the name “Renewable”. Because…it’s not!


52

Honestly; what is it you suggest we do? Oil is a finite resource; that is a fact. Once it’s gone, it’s gone. We as a country, don’t have a lot of it ourselves either… Pay out the nose til it’s gone? Invest in the future NOW!


-47

We’ve had the future in our hands since 1939, but the very same “green energy” cheerleaders have fought tooth and nail to prevent the US from having enough of the future.


That future investment, is and has been, nuclear.


34

Col. Fletcher Prouty explains the invention of the term “fossil fuels”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSff0pwc1Xc


7

That is great.


2

Technological progress?… using wind has been around since the first windmill was erected on an Irish hillside…


12

Very good news! That wind project is DOA.


118

Trump isn’t ok with offshore wind energy, but he’s in total support of offshore oil drilling. Can’t have it both ways.


-52

One step forward, two steps back. I predict Americans will begin rethinking the decision to put a pro fossil fuel administration in the White House when they can no longer afford property insurance on their houses. Home owners insurance is up 20% in just the last two years, and underwriters will tell you that climate change is the chief culprit in driving up prices—just yesterday there was a tornado in Scott’s Valley near Santa Cruz—absolutely not normal, despite what the climate deniers will claim.


Gee, wind energy would mitigate that. But, congratulations to the handful of fishermen and nimby’s in Morro Bay for their supposed good fortune.


Drill, Baby, Drill!


-61

Great news. 47 making a positive impact immediately.


64

You’re sick. Have you seen h cabinet? Elon is virtually running congress. I wonder why his company uploaded the voting data and then his satellite crashed?


-7
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