Lake Erie Project Is the Latest Victim of Offshore Wind Struggles

The Lake Erie Energy Development Corporation (LEEDCo) announced on Friday that it is putting its Icebreaker Wind project on hold, the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports. The project, first imagined in 2005, would have built six wind turbines in Lake Erie as a pilot to test the viability of offshore wind power in the Great Lakes.

The project faced pushback from industry and environmental groups, along with a legal challenge partially funded by a coal company, hurdles that all contributed to delaying and stalling the project. The final nail in the coffin of Icebreaker came in the form of higher interest rates and inflation that have driven up the cost of construction. LEEDCo got a $50 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, but in the face of deteriorating support from government and developers, there is not enough money to move forward with the project. LEEDCo is in the process of returning the remaining grant money.

Icebreaker is far from the only offshore wind project in the Northeast and Midwest struggling to contend with macroeconomic conditions of late. Last month, Danish wind developer Ørsted announced that it would cancel its planned Ocean Wind project off the coast of New Jersey. These recent developments pose challenges to the Biden Administration’s goal of producing 30,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

For more on offshore wind, read NEMWI’s 2021 report here.

Reported by NEMWI staff member Alex Eastman

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Seeks To Address PFAS Knowledge Gaps

The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) recently announced $400,000 to fund four projects that will assess and develop communications about perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

As an example, Lyn van Swol and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin, Madison will observe PFAS-related internet searches, and test different methods of social media messaging, especially among Latino populations in Wisconsin.

“Researchers are continuously learning more and more about the prevalence of PFAS in the environment and their effects on humans, thereby complicating policy setting and communication about risks,” IISG Director Tomas Höök said. “We hope these projects will collectively contribute to improved communication and consideration of policies related to PFAS in the Great Lakes region.”

Learn more here.

Reported by NEMWI staff member Alex Eastman

USGCRP Hosts National Climate Assessment Water Webinar

The U.S. Global Change Research Program hosted the fifth installment of its National Climate Assessment (NCA5) webinar series on Monday, December 4. In this episode, attendees heard from Chapter Lead Liz Payton and other contributing authors to the fourth chapter of the NCA5 (“Water”). According to Payton, the Water chapter seeks to answer questions about climate change’s impact on the water cycle, water quality, infrastructure, and the prevalence of drought, runoff, and flooding.

During the introduction to the webinar, Payton stressed that research into these disparate areas revealed consistent findings, noting that “These questions organized the scope, findings, and organization of our chapter into three key messages: climate change will continue to cause profound changes in the water cycle; water cycle changes will affect all communities with disproportionate impacts for some; and progress towards adaptation has been uneven.”

While the authors noted that the accuracy of their projections will depend upon emissions scenarios over the next half-century, most of the country is poised to receive more precipitation in the coming decades. The Northeast will be among the wettest regions in the country by mid-century, and a substantial portion of the Midwest can expect to receive an additional inch to two inches of rainfall annually. Even though the Northeast-Midwest region will receive more rainfall, the authors emphasized that the area will remain vulnerable to drought due to a projected increase in the climatic water deficit (a metric that accounts for vegetative and atmospheric demand).

Debbie Lee of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory highlighted the International Joint Commission’s (IJC) “Plan 2014” as a successful instance of policy designed to protect vulnerable waterways amidst rising temperatures. The plan was created to manage Lake Ontario-St. Lawrence River water levels, restore the health and diversity of sensitive wetland ecosystems, and account for rising temperatures due to climate change. Lee noted that “the collaborative framework used to develop the plan serves as a successful approach to managing water resource conflict.”

NEMWI will continue to track this webinar series and monitor the USGCRP website for the release of the full NCA5 report. A “Chapter Handout” for the Water Chapter of the NCA5 is available for download here, and a recording of the webinar can be accessed here.

Reported by NEMWI Intern Ethan Groboski, Brown University

U.S. Senate Holds Hearing on IIJA Investments in Ecosystem Restoration, Wildlife Crossings, and Pollinator Habitat

On Wednesday, December 6, the U.S. Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works held a hearing on the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act’s (IIJA) investments in ecosystem restoration, wildlife crossings, and pollinator habitat. The purpose of the hearing, as highlighted by Committee Chair Senator Thomas Carper (D-DE) in his opening remarks, was to learn more about how specific agencies were using the federal funding allocated under the IIJA to collaborate with states, local communities, and other stakeholders, and the challenges and opportunities moving forward.

Among the witnesses was Martha Williams, director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). Williams explained that IIJA funding has been crucial for helping the Service accomplish their mission in removing high hazard dams, protecting infrastructure in communities by improving their resilience to fire and floods, and coordinating cohesive action across the federal government.

The IIJA’s National Fish Passage Program, one of FWS’s major focuses, authorized $73 million for fish passage projects across thirty states that took aim at the various barriers that fish face when accessing spawning grounds, safe waters, and food. Addressing these problems helps fight climate change by creating more resilient and adaptable ecosystems. The IIJA has also formed the Fish Passage Task Force that helps the thirteen member states share data and resources to improve collaboration.

The IIJA also tackles environmental hazards on top of promoting resource protection. “Orphan wells,” or abandoned oil and gas drilling sites, present a serious public health threat by contaminating groundwater and emitting methane gas. IIJA funding has been instrumental in removing and remediating nearly 300 sites across the country.

Brian Fouch, Associate Administrator of the Office of Federal Lands Highway, spotlighted the IIJA’s Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program, which creates a dedicated source of funding for wildlife crossings projects. This program serves a dual purpose in both promoting vehicle safety and increasing habitat connectivity for local wildlife. Finally, Fouch emphasized the IIJA’s role in establishing the Pollinator-Friendly Practices on Roadsides and Highway Rights-of-Way program which includes the planting and seeding of native, locally appropriate grasses and wildflowers to ensure biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.

Both witnesses highlighted various programs and projects that directly stem from the IIJA’s historic funding allocation. They document the real benefits towards water systems, biodiversity, ecosystem resilience, and habitat connectivity that are materializing across the country.

A recording of the hearing is linked here.

Reported by NEMWI intern James Li, Brown University

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