Sec. 203. Grant program for research on the impacts of offshore wind development on fisheries resources
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Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall establish and carry out a program to award grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to enable such entities to carry out research that contributes to an understanding of the impacts of all stages of offshore wind energy planning, construction, operation, and decommissioning on fisheries resources, including marine and coastal ecosystems, wildlife, and habitat.
From the amounts appropriated to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary of Commerce shall reserve 2 percent for use by Indian Tribes and Tribal organizations. An eligible entity, as determined by the Secretary of Commerce, that desires to receive a grant under this section shall submit an application to the Secretary of Commerce at such time and in such form as the Secretary may require, including a demonstration of how the eligible entity will use the grant funds to further understanding of the impacts of offshore wind energy development on fisheries resources.
The Secretary of Commerce shall, in awarding grants under this section— give priority to eligible entities that demonstrate engagement with, and collection of input from, the fishing community in the grant development process and include fishermen as active contributors in any research supported under this section; and to the extent practicable, consider eligible entities that serve areas that are scheduled for offshore wind development. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall use the grant funds for research on any of the following:
Understanding the effects of electric and magnetic forces, habitat changes, vibrations, noise, and thermal radiation on any fish populations. Conducting planning or analysis on how to adapt fisheries surveys to the presence of wind farms. Establishing baseline conditions for benthic habitat and conducting monitoring throughout offshore wind energy operation. Increasing automated or indirect data collection from fishing vessels. Studying oceanographic changes due to the presence of offshore wind infrastructure, including turbulence and surface wind reduction.
Studying the socioeconomic impacts of wind energy development on fishermen and their communities, including ability to adapt, resilience to change, and economic impacts. Social science research on how fishermen and communities will be impacted by offshore wind energy development. Examining potential uses of offshore wind turbines, pilings, mooring lines, inter-array cables, transmission cables, and other hard structures as data collection points for scientific research, infrastructure for aquaculture operations, or for other uses.
Finding pathways and opportunities for skill transferability for fishermen to other industries. Infrastructure designs that can facilitate and support biodiversity in the area of the offshore wind project. Cumulative impacts on highly migratory species from development of offshore wind energy facilities in multiple lease areas in migratory pathways. Understanding impacts from offshore wind energy development on species and oceanographic processes outside the boundaries of wind energy areas.
Other topics as recommended— in consultation with the Standing Committee on Offshore Wind Energy and Fisheries at the National Academies; and by studies and reports on offshore wind energy impacts to fisheries resources, including the Fisheries and Offshore Wind Interactions: Synthesis of Science technical memo produced by the Responsible Offshore Development Alliance, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Northeast Fisheries Science Center, and other studies and reports of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Secretary of Commerce shall encourage eligible entities that receive a grant under this section to, when practicable and appropriate (as determined by the Secretary of Commerce)— coordinate with the Integrated Ocean Observing System and the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind in conducting research described in subsection (c); and make data generated from such research accessible through the Integrated Ocean Observing System. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall make data generated from conducting research described in subsection
(c)publicly accessible, to the extent consistent with other laws. An eligible entity that receives a grant under this section shall submit to the Secretary of Commerce a report, at such time and in such form as the Secretary may require, on the results of the use of the grant. Each report submitted under paragraph
(1)shall include any relevant data requested by the Secretary for purposes of tracking the effectiveness of the program established under this section. The Secretary of Commerce shall make each report submitted under paragraph
(1)publicly available. There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $30,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2035, to remain available until expended.