At the request of the California Ocean Protection Council, California Ocean Science Trust is working with partners to assess the regulatory opportunities for adaptively managing the potential environmental impacts of floating offshore wind.
Understanding Regulatory Opportunities for Managing Potential Environmental Impacts
Overview
Project Partnerships
About the Project
OST will develop a public report analyzing the adaptive management capabilities of both state and federal regulations related to the marine impacts of floating offshore wind. We expect the report will be grounded in a science-based perspective of adaptive management and will include case studies of adaptive management with relevant lessons learned. In addition, it will include a legal analysis of adaptive management opportunities, including clarification of when regulations may be less appropriate for adaptive management, and a summary of promising adaptive management opportunities. A final report is expected in early 2026.
This effort aligns with OST’s progress over the last year to inventory environmental data and information needed for state and federal permitting and regulation, as part of the development of comprehensive environmental monitoring guidance led by the California National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, the California Ocean Protection Council, and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. With this project, OST will continue to contribute to important discussions on floating offshore wind and its impacts, alongside CLEE and ELI.
