The production and transmission of electricity, including via floating offshore wind farms, generates electromagnetic fields (EMFs). The suspended cables that connect floating offshore wind turbines to each other (inter-array cables) and that transmit electricity to shore (export cables) will generate EMFs that decrease in strength with distance from the cable. Animals that are receptive to electrical and/or magnetic signals–such as certain species of sharks, rays, skates, crustaceans, whales, dolphins, porpoises, bony fish, and turtles–may be able to detect the EMFs depending on their distance to the cables.
This is a part of a series of seven fact sheets summarizing existing science on the environmental effects of offshore wind farms to address common concerns raised in California’s communities. This fact sheet underwent a scientific review process by 11 experts from academia, consulting, and government. It is intended as a resource for legislators, agencies, local government, and other policymakers as they field questions from the public.
