In addition to first-order considerations such as wind conditions, water depths, proximity to onshore grid infrastructure, and ecological and human impacts, the geologic setting must be considered in the location, and construction, of offshore wind sites. The geologic setting is relevant because it determines the sediments and rocks that are present where offshore wind sites are/will be located. The coastal areas along the eastern seaboard of the United States have evolved under conditions of global sea level rise and fall during the past several hundred thousand years. Due to this complex evolution there is a pronounced three-dimensional variation in the types and distribution of sediments that occur at the surface and in the sub-bottom. Given their different geotechnical properties, the variable distribution of sediments has significant implications for wind project sites, especially in the selection (e.g., monopile or gravity base), location, installation, and subsequent scouring in the vicinity of wind turbine foundations. Since foundations are a significant component in the cost of developing an offshore wind project, identifying regions that based on their sediment types allow for less complex geotechnical engineering solutions could have a significant impact on the overall budget for an offshore wind project. As developers examine existing Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) along the East Coast of the US, and as future locations for WEAs are defined by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), the geologic setting should also be considered as a key factor in determining optimal sites for offshore wind development.
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