Poll: US coastal county residents support offshore wind development as industry hits key milestones

Americans in coastal counties have overwhelmingly positive attitudes about offshore wind energy and support offshore wind near where they live. Energy independence is a strong rationale for expanding offshore wind, though there are concerns about impacts on wildlife. Surveying Americans who live in coastal counties, they find that these Americans have overwhelmingly positive attitudes about offshore wind and its expansion – including in their own areas: 68% support the construction of offshore wind farms to harness wind; energy in U.S. waters, with just 17% opposed; 66% have favorable views of offshore wind energy, while just 18% feel unfavorably; 64% believe that offshore wind energy is “very” or “somewhat” reliable; 63% support the construction of offshore wind farms to harness wind energy in U.S. waters near where they live, with just 23% opposed.