Date of Award

5-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School

College of Science and Mathematics

Department/Program

Earth and Environmental Studies

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Pankaj Lal

Committee Member

Clement Alo

Committee Member

Yang Deng

Abstract

New Jersey has taken steps to and aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. In order to achieve that a part of its Energy Master Plan focuses on building the wind energy sector. First part of this thesis presents a life cycle assessment on a hypothetical offshore wind farm 15 miles from the coast of New Jersey and compares the benefits of recycling the offshore wind farm at the end of its 20-year life cycle. The results indicated that 1) floating turbines cause less emissions than fixed turbines 2) recycling rotor will have a negative impact of 17% on the mineral resource scarcity 3) recycling nacelle will have a negative impact of 5% on the mineral resource scarcity. The second part of this thesis sheds light on the perceptions of tourists being able to see offshore wind turbines and their acceptance. The results indicated that 1) respondents with second hand experience of wind turbines preferred a room without wind turbines 2) respondents with first hand experience of wind turbines preferred a room with wind turbines 3) respondents are more likely to change their preference to indifference if they believe they or the environment is being harmed in the categories of creating jobs, producing clean energy, energy security, local tourism, property values 4) respondents who believe that wind turbines will have positive a affect on creating jobs, producing clean energy, energy security, marine environment are more likely to stay with their preference.

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