Environmental Stewardship

The waters off the Atlantic Coast are full of a diverse range of marine life. We took extensive precautions to protect these sensitive ocean creatures while constructing the pilot project. All the knowledge we gained during the pilot project is now being used to inform the commercial project. This commitment to the environment extends across our entire footprint, informing everything we do — from cutting emissions to reducing water use to protecting wildlife.

One measure we implemented while installing the foundations of the pilot turbines was to use a bubble curtain. This technique uses multiple air compressors to form two walls of air bubbles, which acts as a noise barrier, reducing sound waves created by pile driving the foundation into the ocean floor and protecting marine mammals. During the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) permitting process for the commercial project, a thorough review was conducted to ensure we are using the best sound mitigation technology or combination of technologies as well as having extensive monitoring in place to continue to provide protections for marine mammals.

The CVOW project team also includes nine certified Protected Species Observers who are on duty during critical operations. These observers watch continuously from the project vessels for marine mammals and sea turtles and will stop operations if species are within exclusion zones. Everyone working aboard our project vessels has environmental training, including how to identify certain marine species. The project team also monitors underwater sounds in real-time.

Learn more about some of the environmental protections we have implemented for the CVOW project:

Prior to constructing the pilot turbines,

more than two dozen studies and surveys were conducted to ensure protection of ocean life and avian species

Throughout construction of the pilot turbines, continual monitoring was undertaken

to ensure sea life — dolphins, sea turtles and whales — did not enter the construction zones during installation; if spotted by observers, construction was stopped until the area was clear

Every precaution is being taken

to ensure the safety of the North Atlantic right whale

Plans to reuse, recycle, or responsibly dispose of

offshore and onshore project components; special care given to artificial reefs during decommissioning

Protective technology

mitigated sound generated during construction

Minimizing impacts

to sea floor and aquatic life through horizontal drilling for onshore cables

Our team paid special attention to protecting avian species at every step of the process. Practices such as time-of-year restrictions, installing anti-perching devices and acoustic monitoring help protect birds, bats, sea turtles and other marine life.