City of Coos Bay release - A team of researchers will be visiting the Coos Bay area during July 14-22 to study public perceptions of potential offshore wind development off the coast of Maine. The goal of this research is to better understand residents’ views about offshore wind and other energy developments, including potential local benefits and impacts. Our findings will help local public officials, government agencies, and private organizations do a better job of addressing the concerns of local-area residents. Oregon State University and the Pacific Marine Energy Center are conducting this study with support provided by the U.S. Department of Energy.  The team will be conducting in-person surveys. They have selected a scientific random sample of 700 households in the towns of Coos Bay, North Bend, Charleston, and Bar View. The team of researchers will be wearing navy blue polos with university name tags and will be handing out paper surveys to the selected households, then arranging with residents for a later time to pick them up. Residents will be made aware that participation is completely voluntary. Furthermore, participants’ names are not recorded, and address records will be destroyed as soon as they are done contacting sampled households.  The Institutional Review Board at OSU has reviewed and approved of this research. If you have questions related to your rights or about any consequences you might experience as a possible study participant, you may contact the OSU IRB administrator at (541)737-8008, or email [email protected], and ask about research protocol HE-2024-857.  If you have questions or concerns about this study, please free to get in touch with the primary investigators by e-mail ([email protected]) or phone (541)737-2078, or visit our webpage to learn more https://www.pmec.us/offshore.