Opposition to and complaints about wind turbines and farms is likely to increase in the U.S. and worldwide until substantial biological, economic, environmental, and safety issues – including fires (see 1, 2) and toxic emissions – are eliminated or greatly reduced (see also 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22).  Nevertheless, earlier this summer, the Biden administration and administrations in 11 states formed a federal-state offshore wind partnership (that will require billions in funding), which even has environmentalists concerned.  More recently it announced plans for higher-priced floating offshore wind turbines.

From Ars Technica:

US launches program to boost floating wind turbines

Most of the West Coast will need floating hardware to harvest offshore wind.

John Timmer

On Thursday, the Biden administration announced the latest in its renewable energy efforts, this time focused on a technology that hasn't really arrived yet: floating offshore wind turbines. Compared to turbines directly anchored on the seafloor, floating versions are estimated to cost about 50 percent more, which has made energy development of large areas of the ocean cost-prohibitive. The program announced today will create a "wind shot" that aims to drop the costs by more than 70 percent over the next decade and position the US as a leader in this industry.

Will it float?