4:08PM-Monday-11/20/2023: Diane Rich Discussing OSU’s Conflicts of Interest With Wind Turbine Study LIVE on KWRO

November 20, 2023 Rob Taylor

Oregon State University has a conflict of interest concerning the wind turbine project and their 2.5 million dollar study. OSU has been chosen by the US Department of Energy to survey people’s opinions on the wind turbine project.

DOE Wind Energy Technologies Office Selects 15 Projects Totaling $27 Million to Address Key Deployment Challenges for Offshore, Land-Based, and Distributed Wind | Department of Energy

It is being conducted by lead researcher Hilary Boudet, an associate professor of sociology at OSU’s College of Liberal Arts. Having the sociology professor conduct the survey means it will be nothing more than a psyop on the people of Oregon, but they have another problem.

In HB3375 which was passed in the regular session of the legislature in 2021, it designated OSU to play a supportive role in designing floating offshore wind energy.

Whereas Oregon State University is a global leader in marine energy technology development and evaluation as well as in balancing multiple stakeholder objectives for the management of public resources; and

Whereas Oregon State University can play a supportive role in designing floating offshore wind energy projects to be coexistent with Oregon’s commercial fishing, maritime and coastal manufacturing and fabrication facilities;

How can the same organization that is designing the project also conduct a fair and objective survey for the project?

OSU faces another conflict. The organization that is administering the funding is highly supportive of wind energy, which will erode the public’s confidence.

The organization administering the funding is the Pacific Marine Energy Center.

Here is what their website claims:

Going back over a decade, PMEC has been dedicated to accelerating the responsible development of wave, tidal, in-river, and offshore wind energy technologies. The Center unites faculty, staff and students across three leading universities in their work with key stakeholders to investigate technical, environmental, and social dimensions of marine energy.

OUR VISION

Connecting people to the power of the ocean.

OUR MISSION

To responsibly advance marine energy by expanding scientific understanding, engaging stakeholders, and educating students.

OUR VALUES

VISIONARY:

Accelerating the emergence of marine energy requires long-term, bold and innovative thinking. We take on critical marine energy challenges and we embrace all stages of the innovation process.

HIGH-IMPACT:

We strive to make the strongest possible positive impacts to the environment, society, the nation, and the planet. Our research aims to make measurable progress towards a more sustainable and resilient future.

OBJECTIVE:

We believe that rigorous, impartial, and evidence-based approaches are the only way to provide credible results regarding the opportunities, capabilities and effects of marine energy.

COLLABORATIVE:

Teamwork, mentorship and collaboration are fundamental to PMEC's success. Our greatest achievements are the result of interdisciplinary teams working collectively to solve meaningful problems.

INCLUSIVE:

We value a diversity of thought, background, perspective, and identity.

We consider the strongest PMEC community to be one that includes an entire spectrum of cultures and populations.

OUR ORGANIZATION PMEC is an umbrella organization that unifies research & development, testing, and educational programs in marine energy across Oregon State University (lead), the University of Washington, and the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Individual projects typically cross-cut these capabilities and often involve collaborative teams drawn from multiple institutions. For example, a graduate student might conduct research towards their degree at one of the affiliated test facilities. Further our scope includes technology, the environment, and society, with projects often cross-cutting these areas.

Projects are collaborative with partners in private industry and National Laboratories.