Legal & Policy

How governing bodies plan for and regulate renewable energy projects through policy and legal frameworks.

Legal

There are several local and federal agencies that must approve the various components of a land-based wind, offshore wind, or marine renewable energy project throughout the permitting process. A baseline environmental assessment is typically required to identify potential environmental concerns, including the presence of threatened or endangered species. Depending on the concerns identified during this assessment, monitoring and mitigation efforts may be required during facility construction, operation, and decommissioning.

 

Policy

An in-depth understanding of the potential environmental impacts of a land-based wind, offshore wind, or marine renewable energy project is extremely important in determining the governing policies surrounding the assessment and approval of the project. The level of risk of a project presents is typically determined by considering both the known consequences of a project’s development and the uncertainty around its potential impacts. Various local, state, and federal policies have been developed to support the growth of the wind and marine renewable energy industries in a sustainable manner.

 

Marine and Wind Energy Environmental Documents

Tethys is a knowledge hub that contains documents on the environmental effects of wind and marine energy. The table below contains all of the documents in the Tethys Knowledge Base associated with Legal & Policy.

Total: 738

Searches title and abstract.
Title Author Date Content Type Technology Stressor Receptor
Powering the Offshore Wind Future in Northern Japan: Opportunities and Recommendations Ocean Energy Pathway Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Marine Renewable Energy Sector Vision 2050 Marine Renewables Canada Report Marine Energy, Riverine, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
2025 UK Ocean Energy Review Grattan, K., Olsson, S., Noble, D. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Disruptive Innovation and Industrial Modernisation: Pathways to Securing Offshore Renewable Energy Supply Chain Competitiveness Grattan, K., Olsson, S., Noble, D. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
The Ocean Equity Index Blythe, J., Claudet, J., Gill, D. Journal Article Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Ocean renewable energy for equitable energy access in a Blue Economy Cisneros-Montemayor, A., Hirsch, S., Dillon, T. Journal Article Marine Energy, Wave, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Comparative analysis of onshore, offshore, and floating wind turbines for renewable energy systems: A review Koondhar, M., Albsha, L., Mahmoud, S. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Fostering a just energy transition: A framework for policy design IRENA Report Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Cutting Through the Red Tape For Green Offshore Energy Voparil, I. , Bennett, J. Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Balancing wind energy expansion and fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea: A trait-based assessment of vulnerability to floating offshore wind farms for commercially important species Wawrzynkowski, P., Sabatés, A., Lloret, J. Journal Article Wind Energy, Floating Offshore Wind Changes in Flow, Chemicals, EMF, Entanglement, Lighting, Noise Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Summary report of stakeholder engagement (WP3): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Hague, A., Miller, S.C., Jones, E.L. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Environmental licensing of wind farms in the Global North and South: A review of guidelines and new proposals Santos, V., Cavalcante, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Recommendations and Roadmap (WP4): AssESs - Assessing the extent and significance of uncertainty in offshore wind assessments Butler, A., Lorenzo-Arribas, A., Hague, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, Habitat Change Birds, Seabirds, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
On the Concept of—and Legal Pathways Towards—Marine Co-existence: Sustainable Offshore Wind Energy in the Baltic and North Seas Neimane, L., Schütz, S., Gipperth, L. Journal Article Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
All tide up: addressing the regulatory and environmental barriers affecting tidal energy development in British Columbia Kelsey, A. Thesis Marine Energy, Tidal Collision, EMF, Noise Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Powering a Nature-Positive Future A Renewable Energy Roadmap Sarkar, M., Allinson, T., Asante-Owusu, R. Guidance Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Renewables Surpass Coal Globally, Despite US Setbacks Hall, A., Barnes, R., Saxum, J. Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Offshore Wind Farm Contributions to a Regional Environmental and Ecological Monitoring System to Address Multi-User Needs Kohut, J., Crowley, M., Coleman, K. Guidance Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Physical Environment, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Recreation & Tourism, Stakeholder Engagement
Suitability for co-location of offshore aquaculture and wave energy in the US Caribbean Garavelli, L., Freeman, M., Grear, M. Journal Article Marine Energy, OTEC, Tidal, Wave Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
Foresight review of nature-positive engineering: Building with nature in coastal and marine environments Lloyd's Register Group Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Life Cycle Assessment, Marine Spatial Planning
A guide for co-locating marine energy and aquaculture Freeman, M., Garavelli, L., Branch, R. Conference Paper Marine Energy Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Stakeholder Engagement
Environmental effects of marine renewable energy off-grid and micro-grid applications: a use case approach to assess existing knowledge and remaining uncertainties Hemery, L., Weicht, L., Copping, A. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Attraction, Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Reptiles, Sea Turtles, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Synthesis of evidence (D01) Jones, E.L., Hague, A., Skeate, E.R. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Avoidance, Collision Birds, Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Summary report Stakeholder interviews (D04a) Hague, A., Skeate, E., Miller, S. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Benefits or bribes? Ethical concerns with the potential corruption of civic obligations through community benefits schemes for wind farms Breakey, H., Bossi, L., Marshallsay, R. Journal Article Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
ORJIP BenCH: Benthic habitat changes postconstruction of offshore wind (Final report) Hubble, M., O'Brien, N., Villanueva-Brackley, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Attraction, Habitat Change Fish, Demersal Fish, Invertebrates, Physical Environment, Sediment Transport, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning
ORJIP Closing the Loop: Recommendations and roadmap (D05) Jones, E., Hague, A., Booth, C. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Birds, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
International ORE (Offshore Renewable Energy) Design Flexibility O'Shea, M., Pandit, A., Flynn, W. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Stakeholder Engagement
Assessment of Federal Offshore Wind Permitting and Environmental Review Processes Hartnett, M., Morandi, A., Reynolds, A. Report Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Bats, Birds, Marine Mammals, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Visual Impacts
Nature-Positive Energy Principles Environmental Siting and Permitting of Solar, Wind and Grid Infrastructure IRENA Coalition for Action Report Wind Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Linkages between environmental, social, and economic effects of marine renewable energy McGrath, J., Freeman, M., Rose, D. Presentation Marine Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Techno-Economic and Policy Analysis of Ocean Current Energy for Hydrogen Storage and Grid Resiliency in Florida Zarif, M., Tang, Y., VanZwieten, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy, Ocean Current Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Social & Economic Data
Building a Diverse Marine Energy Workforce Pipeline Cardinal, A., Stratton, B., Daw, J. Conference Paper Marine Energy Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
A UK Science Requirements Framework for Future Marine Research Infrastructure Hill, K., Moore, M., Rogers, A.D. Report Marine Energy, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy
Monitoring Offshore Windfarm Impacts on the Commercial Fishing Industry Good Practice Guidance Xodus Group Guidance Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Navigation, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement
Sea Space Analysis for Wave and Tidal Energy Lee, S., Strong, V., Anning, D. Report Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Chemicals, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Entanglement, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Seabirds, Fish, Invertebrates, Marine Mammals, Physical Environment, Water Quality, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Marine Spatial Planning, Navigation, Recreation & Tourism, Social & Economic Data, Stakeholder Engagement, Visual Impacts
Wind farms through the lens of sustainability and circularity: Integrating environmental, economic, and social dimensions Arias, A., Moreira, M., Feijoo, G. Journal Article Wind Energy Attraction, Avoidance, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Birds, Fish, Human Dimensions, Fisheries, Legal & Policy, Life Cycle Assessment, Social & Economic Data, Visual Impacts
Marine Renewable Energy and Its Role in Sustainable Blue Economy Gulbinskas, S. Book Chapter Marine Energy, Tidal, Wave, Wind Energy, Land-Based Wind Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Stakeholder Engagement
Economic Viability and Environmental Assessment of Marine Renewable Energy Technologies: A Comparative Framework for Tidal Stream Energy and Offshore Wind Power in the United States Bajaj, A. Journal Article Tidal, Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind Avoidance, Changes in Flow, Collision, Displacement, EMF, Habitat Change, Noise Bats, Birds, Passerines, Fish, Human Dimensions, Legal & Policy, Navigation, Social & Economic Data
Environmental Monitoring & Faster Consenting for Offshore Wind Quinn, T., Rees, M., Whalley, C. Wind Energy, Fixed Offshore Wind, Floating Offshore Wind Human Dimensions, Environmental Impact Assessment, Legal & Policy
Displaying 1 - 40 of 738 results