The objective of this study is to understand potential effects of offshore fixed-bottom wind turbine generators (WTGs) on marine hydrodynamics and resulting impacts on marine mammals, specifically the North Atlantic right whale prey. The study will be focused on WTGs in the Nantucket Shoals region, with hub heights above 100 m and at depths between 36 and 60 m. The study will consist of a literature review, an evaluation of the applicability of existing hydrodynamic models to the Nantucket Shoals region, and recommendations on measures needed to detect and assess changes in hydrodynamics due to interactions with WTGs that may impact the surrounding ecosystem. Specifically, the committee will:

• Conduct a literature review covering the state of the science on the effects of offshore wind turbine structures at local to regional scales on hydrodynamic process and the scale of change related to natural variability.
• Based on the literature review and public information gathering sessions:
  • Comment on the ability to estimate the extent of perturbations (distance and magnitude) caused by WTG installation and operation, to the oceanographic regime. This will include potential changes to ecosystem dynamics, specifically for assessing whether these facilities could substantially affect North Atlantic right whale prey availability near Nantucket Shoals.
  • Evaluate the applicability of models used by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) in EIS analysis or studies in conjunction with US Atlantic Wind Energy Areas (e.g., MIKE/DHI, FVCOM, Delft3D) to the Nantucket Shoals region. How do the methods, assumptions, and conclusions from the models translate to the Nantucket Shoal region (including wind-forced effects due to the atmospheric wakes caused by turbines and ocean mixing/turbulence effects from ocean currents and waves interacting with turbine structures)? What are the key parameters to include in a model to assess the effects of WTGs on hydrodynamics in the Nantucket Shoals region and how well do existing models meet these needs? What other models should BOEM consider?
  • Suggest approaches for assessing the hydrodynamic impacts of WTGs.