TOMS RIVER, NJ – Another dead whale has washed up at the Jersey Shore and Ocean County officials are now joining the growing number people raising concerns over work being done to build a massive offshore wind farm.
In response to concerns expressed by elected officials, tourism leaders, local residents, business owners, and environmental groups, the Ocean County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution calling for a moratorium on offshore wind energy projects.
As a liaison to tourism and business development for Ocean County, Joseph H. Vicari, Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, stated that there is clear concern regarding these projects.
“We need to know more about the potential impact on the environment and the economy before this goes any farther,” Vicari said.
In a resolution passed by the Board on Feb. 15 and sent to U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew and Christopher H. Smith, the 9th and 10th State Legislative Districts, and the Ocean County Mayors Association, the Board of Commissioners have urged Governor Phil Murphy and the state and federal governments to declare a moratorium on offshore wind energy projects, similar to what Smith, Van Drew and others have already done.
“While this Board of Commissioners recognizes the importance of pursuing new and clean energy sources, it acknowledges serious objections and concerns have not been addressed as these projects continue to move forward through the planning stages,” the resolution states.
The resolution notes concerns expressed by New Jersey’s $2.5 billion annual fishing industry, which provides numerous economic benefits, including employment opportunities.
As a result of the tourism industry, Ocean County alone generates $7 billion in revenue for the local economy. The resolution notes that residents and business owners are concerned about the irrevocable negative impacts that will result from the turbines being visible from Long Beach Island and other oceanfront beach locations, as well as the impact this visual pollution may have on tourism and local property values.
According to Vicari, Brita Forsberg, Executive Director of Save Barnegat Bay, is one of the leading environmental leaders raising concerns over the projects.
“In consulting with Brita, we have come to learn that further study is necessary concerning the high voltage electrical mainline connecting the windmills to the power grid, which will pass directly under Barnegat Bay and could have a negative impact on the fragile bay and surrounding environments, including Island Beach State Park,” Vicari said.
As part of the resolution, some environmentalists acknowledge that the recent increase in whale deaths along the New Jersey coast and the Eastern Seaboard may have been caused by sonar and other surveys conducted before the construction of wind farms. Vicari stated that the concerns expressed by the public raise many legitimate concerns that the federal or state governments should not dismiss.
“This affects the livelihood of countless people in our state and those that live along the coast,” he added.