OCEAN
Winds, Waves, and Sun
State of Affairs
Offshore Wind in Oregon Waters
Ross Tyler’s letter to the Oregon Department of Energy
In summary…
Oregon's Offshore Wind Opportunity: A Strategic Energy Investment
Floating wind technology—adapted from oil and gas platforms—has opened the door for offshore wind on the U.S. West Coast. While California has led the way, Oregon possesses some of the world’s best offshore wind resources.
However, developer interest in Oregon has declined due to several challenges:
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Lack of State Support: Unlike other states, Oregon’s leadership hasn’t championed offshore wind.
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Transmission Bottlenecks: Dependence on BPA, a federally run agency, complicates power delivery.
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Community Concerns: Some coastal residents and tribes oppose development, with misinformation campaigns adding to resistance.
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Economic Uncertainty: Global disruptions and shifting federal priorities have increased investment risks.
Despite these obstacles, offshore wind remains a promising part of Oregon’s energy future—especially with the growing power demands of data centers and AI-driven industries. To ensure energy security and economic benefits stay in-state, Oregon must invest in local power generation. Offshore wind offers clean, scalable, and job-creating energy—funded by private capital, not taxpayers.
Recommended Steps:
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Conduct marine studies to validate data.
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Promote transparency and build trust with communities, tribes, and stakeholders.
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Monitor tech advances to cut costs.
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Support policies that reduce infrastructure expenses (e.g., retooling U.S. shipyards).
A phased rollout—such as developing eight 500 MW wind farms—could deliver 4 GW of capacity while minimizing conflicts with other ocean uses.
Conclusion: Offshore wind is not a gamble but a long-term, strategic investment. Oregon should plan now to benefit later from clean energy, economic growth, and resilience.
Ross Tyler
Offshore Renewable Energy International
OVERVIEW
OCEAN Winds, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is a community-driven and cross-cultural initiative dedicated to safeguarding the interests of coastal communities while addressing the opportunities and challenges associated with renewable energy generation.
We are focused on providing a talking circle for rational conversation and fact-finding regarding all aspects of such development.
OCEAN Winds supports the adoption of renewable energy generation with as few negative impacts as possible. Any negative impacts must be offset by far greater positive impacts on the environment, economies, and society.
Our goal is to facilitate informed decision-making
MISSION
Create Community Equity
in the Blue Green Energy Discussion
Facilitate the engagement of municipal, tribal, federal, state and county governments with community stakeholders, academics, and industry.
Develop media assets to educate and inform all aspects of society about the pros and cons of renewable energy generation.
Disseminate the ongoing dialog between all stakeholders in order to seek mitigation of negative consequences while optimizing the benefits to local communities.
Meld Indigenous knowledge and practices with environmental conservation, economic recovery, industrial development, and zero emissions electrical generation.
Facilitating Research
and the Adoption of
Blue Green Energy
Promote the needed Research to establish best practices to reach the goal of a resilient, sustainable, and respectful green energy generation.
Encouraging economic growth through local supply chain development and workforce opportunities.
Ensure that local interests are protected by giving voice to all of our coastal communities before, during, and after the planning stages of any West Coast floating offshore wind energy project.
Establishing an ongoing dialog between local stakeholders and industry to meet the needs of all parties.
Be Part of the
Conversation
OCEAN Winds is promoting a process of front-loaded stakeholder engagement designed around our coastal community perspective and interests.
Our goal is to inform and participate in Renewable Energy projects when they are in the earliest, formative stages to maximize the benefits to our coastal citizens, ecology, and economy.
Become a Wind Rider
Wind Riders are members of the global community who are interested in learning more about the activities of OCEAN Winds. Wind Riders receive updates and invitations to webinars and access to the OCEAN Winds TALKING CIRCLE. Becoming a Wind Rider indicates an interest in being informed about the Oregon coast perspective on Renewable Energy technologies.
CONTACT
OCEAN Winds
For any general inquiries, please fill in the following contact form:
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