For U.S. Offshore Wind Farms, Sweet Spot Is 15 Miles from Beach

How close would an offshore wind turbine have to be to ruin your day at the beach?

The consensus is fewer than 15 miles (24 kilometers), according to a survey from the University of Delaware that was aimed at finding the sweet spot for beachgoers. At that distance, few people would be bothered by the sight of 100 steel towers with slowly spinning white blades reaching 150 meters (490 feet) above the ocean.

The distance from shore can make or break these multibillion-dollar projects. If the turbines are too close, some people say that seeing them would have a negative ...