09/29/2025
Due 9-30-25. If you agree, let me know and I can draft a letter for you to send!! This is a significant concern for wildlife, particularly the critically endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKWs) and their primary prey, Chinook salmon.
Why This is a Concern for SRKWs and Salmon
The proposed tidal energy pilot project is located in Rosario Strait, which is federally designated as critical habitat for the SRKWs. With fewer than 75 individuals remaining, the survival of this population is extremely tenuous.
Impact on Southern Resident Killer Whales (SRKWs):
• Acoustic Disturbance: The installation and continuous operation of a massive tidal turbine will introduce chronic underwater noise. SRKWs rely on echolocation (sound) for hunting and communication. Increased noise can interfere with their ability to find their dwindling food source (Chinook salmon) and socialize, adding to their existing stress from vessel traffic.
• Displacement: The noise and the physical presence of the turbine could displace the whales from a key migratory and foraging corridor, forcing them into less productive or more dangerous areas.
• Physical Harm: There is a risk of physical injury from the turbine's rotating blades, which some sources describe as a device the size of a Boeing 747.
Impact on Chinook Salmon:
• Habitat Degradation: The turbine infrastructure (anchors, cables, mooring chains) will disturb the seabed, potentially damaging the essential spawning, rearing, and foraging habitat for Chinook salmon.
• Migration Barriers: The physical presence and the noise/electromagnetic fields from the turbine could create a behavioral barrier that disrupts salmon migration patterns. Since Chinook are the SRKW's primary and preferred prey, any impact on the salmon population directly impacts the orcas' survival.
Regulatory Concerns:
• Expedited Licensing: The request to expedite the licensing and bypass key steps of the Integrated Licensing Process (ILP) is concerning because it skips the rigorous scientific review and stakeholder engagement necessary to properly evaluate the cumulative, long-term harm to these imperiled species.
• Conflict of Interest: OPALCO's request to be designated as the non-federal representative for Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultation raises concerns about potential conflicts of interest, as it places the developer in the role of leading the environmental review for its own project in critical habitat.
Can It Be Stopped?
The immediate way to influence the project's approval process is by submitting a public comment to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).
FERC's process is designed to consider public, agency, and tribal input before making a decision. The public comment period is a critical step where opposition and concerns become part of the official legal record that FERC must evaluate.
The deadline for public comments is September 30, 2025.
How to Submit a Public Comment
You can submit your opposition to the proposed permit by following these steps:
• Go to the FERC Online Comment Portal:
• FERC ONLINE COMMENT: https://ferconline.ferc.gov/QuickComment.aspx
• Fill out the required information.
• Include the required Docket and Project Name:
• Project Name: Rosario Strait Tidal Energy Project
• Docket No.: Project No. P-15368-001
• Draft your comment (you can use the information above as talking points). Be sure to express your opposition and concern regarding the risks to the SRKWs and Chinook salmon in their critical habitat.
• You must include your name and contact information at the end of your comments for the submission to be valid.
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