WIND FARM, ENVIRONMENTALISTS AGREE ON WAYS TO PROTECT WHALES

The developers of an offshore wind farm and three environmental organizations announced this week that they have reached an agreement to further protect rare North Atlantic right whales during the construction and operation of the energy-generating project.

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The agreement involving Orsted and Eversource - developers of South Fork Wind off the coast of New England and New York signed by the National Wildlife Federation, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Conservation Law Foundation, the groups said in a joint statement.

The agreement promotes the development of sustainable energy while protecting wildlife, said Alison Chase, a senior policy analyst at the NRDC.

"We don't need to choose between clean energy development and wildlife protection, and this agreement shows how we can do both," she said.

There is estimated to be fewer than 340 North Atlantic right whales remaining, according to marine scientists. They are threatened by changing prey and habitat caused by climate change, entanglement in fishing gear, and vessel strikes.