Offshore wind energy represents a critical opportunity for America’s clean energy transition, yet community opposition remains a significant barrier to its success. This paper introduces the concept of “social derisking,” which emphasizes stakeholder collaboration as a strategy to mitigate the risks of project delays and cancellations due to a lack of local support.
While the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has implemented initial measures to foster engagement, such as community benefit agreements and workforce incentives, these approaches often fall short in addressing the unique challenges of offshore wind development, which include uncertain profits, long timelines, and vast project scales. Drawing on academic literature, policy analysis, and case studies, this Note argues for enhanced BOEM regulations, including stricter engagement requirements and the creation of funded regional benefit groups to build community capacity. These recommendations aim to socially derisk projects, ensuring both equitable stakeholder participation and the rapid deployment of renewable energy.
