Wind turbine
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
Despite opposition from shore communities, the NJ Board of Public Utilities April 30 announced the opening of a fourth offshore wind solicitation. Meanwhile, opponents of offshore wind are circulating an eight-page resolution calling for Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean County governments and municipalities to join in a legal challenge to stop wind turbines from ever being built off the Jersey coast.
The solicitation seeks to award 1.2- to 4-megawatts of offshore wind generation capacity to encourage competition, promote economic development and combat climate impacts at the lowest reasonable cost and risk to NJ ratepayers, a press release from the BPU states.
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy said the offering shows further proof of our commitment to building a strong and thriving offshore wind industry.
BPU's latest solicitation will help guarantee that New Jersey residents have access to clean, affordable energy produced right here at home and powered by our own workforce, Murphy said.
In conjunction with prior awards, offshore wind projects could provide $6.8 billion in economic benefits, including 4,350 new construction and maintenance jobs, the BPU stated.
Along with 52 WHEREAS statements, the resolution includes 11 actions for towns to approve in opposition of offshore wind, including a perceived negative effect on tourism and the economy, and negative environmental impacts to the NJ coastal communities. The resolution credits U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew, NJ Sen. Vince Polistina and Assembly Members Don Guardian and Claire Swift for their efforts to stop the development of offshore wind.
According to a release from Save LBI, Defend Brigantine Beach and Protect Our Coast NJ, the wind turbines will be visible from the beach, crush and destroy the seabed, interfere with migration of endangered whales, and cause economic damage to fishing grounds and tourist regions.
We hope the Murphy administration and the wind developers understand that the fight will continue to prevent the destruction of the coastal ecology and damage to one of the nation's most important beach economies and the core of New Jersey's $47 billion tourist industry, Bruce Afran, the attorney representing the groups said in a statement.
After a lawsuit they brought was dismissed because the judge said the groups had no standing, they have filed a new lawsuit in the NJ Appellate Court and are asking other shore towns to join the lawsuit.
Ventnor joined the prior lawsuit at a cost of $10,000 and may consider joining in the new lawsuit. Ventnor Mayor Lance Landgraf said Saturday morning he intends to support the resolution and would discuss it with the two other commissioners next week.
On Thursday, Margate resident Margaret Reale asked the city's Board of Commissioners to take a stand by passing the resolution and joining the lawsuit by providing as much as $15,000 in taxpayer funds toward the fight. She said the 136 wind turbines proposed by Atlantic Shores will be able to be seen from Lucy the Elephant.
Collectively, we have not taken a stand, Margate Mayor Michael Collins said. Our county and state representatives did reached out to us last week&but I have yet to see the resolution.
After Brigantine approved the resoltuion on May 1, Mayor Vince Sera sent the resolution along with a six-page letter to other local government officials providing background information about the potential loss of property values, increased cost of electricity, and harm to the economy.
The time to take action is now. There are too many unanswered questions about how these ocean wind projects will impact the environment, the economy and the price of electricity, he said. The people of South Jersey deserve better.
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