The continued growth of offshore wind around the globe has brought a lot of significant positive impact in the economy and policies affecting climate action, and new reports have shown how offshore wind power may improve public health.

An EPA study has shown that replacing fossil fuels—which, when burned, release nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere and cause lasting damage when it settle on land and water—with wind and solar energy can reduce risks of heart attacks and asthma.

Generating electricity offshore wind power to replace coal and oil will “reduce emissions of air pollutants like fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. These pollutants can form smog, soot, and ozone. When people downwind are exposed to them, they can develop incapacitating and deadly diseases.”

The vast renewable energy resources in the U.S., particularly offshore wind potential, are enough to supply all the electricity the U.S. consumes—according to the Energy Department.

Furthermore, an environmental research showing the correlation of installing offshore wind farms in the Mid-Atlantic coast projects a 1,100-megawatt wind farm off the coast of New Jersey would not only make carbon emissions decline by around 2.2 million tons every year, or the equivalent to taking over 400,000 cars off the road, but will also save around 13 lives per year.

This is further evidence why it’s crucial to implement changes to gradually shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, not only for the environment, but also as a matter of public health.