The Issue:  Pursuing the potential to harness offshore wind and deliver clean energy is a national priority as wind energy off the US coasts promises a steady source of power. Key to the success of offshore wind development is understanding the complexity of the ocean environment, it’s many uses, and having the knowledge to determine what areas of the ocean are most suitable for harnessing and transporting wind energy prior to investing substantial funds into supporting infrastructure.

The Solution: CSS delivers cutting edge spatial intelligence to support renewable energy siting by curating and synthesizing hundreds of complex oceanographic data layers, as well as data related to fisheries, protected species, shipping, and other natural and man-made resources. CSS develops geospatial models to analyze these data and deliver comprehensive maps and reports characterizing the suitability of ocean areas for renewable energy siting.

CSS Innovations and Contributions:  CSS supports a diversity of requirements for wind energy research, assessment, and development. We support efforts to assess and minimize the impacts of offshore wind activities on endangered or threatened species, marine mammals, fisheries, marine habitats, the fishing industry, and related coastal communities. We have prepared documentation to meet regulatory requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Endangered Species Act (ESA), and Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).

Key Technical Services

  • Marine statistical and spatial ecology
  • Biogeographic and ecological assessments
  • Socio-economic studies including impacts from offshore wind development
  • Habitat characterization and seafloor mapping
  • Essential fish habitat surveys
  • Species-habitat use models
  • Developing Agency reports, GIS data packages, web maps, and related products and web-based data visualization tools
  • Regulatory documentation for NEPA, ESA, and MSA

Examples of CSS Contributions include:

Additional Projects

Coastal Aquaculture Program / Coastal Aquaculture Siting & Sustainability Program 

CSS supports the NCCOS mission to provide high quality science, guidance, and technical support to coastal managers to grow sustainable aquaculture while maintaining and improving ecosystem health. 

Space Life Sciences Lab (SLSL)

CSS delivers onsite Operations, Facility, IT, and Health & Safety oversight for the Space Life Sciences Laboratory (SLSL).

Red Hill Drinking Water Crisis

CSS supported the U.S. EPA Red Hill response operations in Hawaii in early 2022.

Human Health Risk Assessment

We help advance the understanding of chemical effects on people and the environment.

Facilities Operations & Maintenance

We understand your facility support needs and deliver customized solutions.

IT Services

Our IT solutions meet clients’ evolving needs.

Satellite Data Applications

Helping create a more environmentally sustainable, weather-ready, and secure nation through application of earth observation data  

Emergency Preparedness & Response

We help our clients prepare for and protect the health and environment of communities after disasters and hazmat releases.

Environmental Resource Assessment & Management

We apply science to address challenges affecting the nation’s natural resources.

Earth & Space Science Support & Operations

We deliver scientific support to advance our clients’ research goals.

Get in touch

Contact us to learn more about our projects, capabilities, solutions, and service offerings.