Pile Driving Noise From Wind Farms Threatens Rare Whales — Study Finds a Fix

A study in Nature Climate Change found that combining bubble curtains with seasonal restrictions on pile driving cuts underwater noise exposure by 74%. A double big bubble curtain costs about $7 million, while limiting construction to June–December adds roughly $6.44 million.

• Bubble curtains plus seasonal limits cut noise exposure by 74%
• Double big bubble curtain costs about $7 million, raising total to $95 million
• Restricting pile driving to June–December adds $6.44 million in costs
• Whale exposure could drop from 236% to 24% when work shifts off-season