OC NJ Stop Wind Development

[Batsto]

https://patch.com/new-jersey/oceancity/ocean-city-officials-call-halt-offshore-wind-development?utm_term=article-slot-1&utm_source=newsletter-daily&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter
 

Ocean City Officials Call For Halt To Offshore Wind Development

Amid growing concerns regarding whale deaths, Ocean City officials are calling for further investigation into the role of offshore wind.

Posted Fri, Jan 27, 2023 at 2:47 pm ET

Ocean City joins a number of conservation groups and government officials like State Sen. Vince Polistina and Rep. Jeff Van Drew who are calling for a halt to offshore wind development in light of the marine mammal deaths. (Shutterstock)

OCEAN CITY, NJ — As the controversy regarding whale deaths and offshore wind continues to grow, Ocean City officials are trying to put a stop to further wind development.

At a recent City Council meeting, officials passed a resolution formally calling for an "immediate moratorium" on offshore wind development until a thorough investigation can prove that it does not contribute to the recent rash of whale deaths at the Jersey Shore.

Ocean City joins a number of conservation groups and government officials like State Sen. Vince Polistina and Rep. Jeff Van Drew who are calling for a halt to offshore wind development in light of the marine mammal deaths.

"The Ocean City community supports clean energy programs, but seeks to first fully understand the cause of these tragic deaths and what can be done to prevent future losses," the resolution reads.

The primary concern is that sonar mapping used in the wind development is confusing the whales and leading to their deaths, according to groups seeking to stop development.

"When has there ever been this many industrial activities permitted in the region at the same time?" Cindy Zipf of conservation group Clean Ocean Action said. "Where is the evidence that these deaths are not related to the intense offshore wind sonar and other geotechnical activities?"

However, there is no evidence to prove that they are related, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which has been tracking an increase in whale deaths (called an "unusual mortality event," or UME) since 2016 - pre-dating offshore wind development.

"At this point, there is no evidence to support speculation that noise resulting from wind development-related site characterization surveys could potentially cause mortality of whales," NOAA officials said.

Officials have said that the equipment used in these surveys does not interfere with marine life.

"Orsted prioritizes coexistence with our communities and marine wildlife," Maddy Urbish, the company's head of government affairs and strategy for New Jersey, told the Associated Press. Orsted is in charge of the controversial Ocean Wind 1 project off Ocean City's coast. "The offshore wind industry is subject to the most stringent level of protections for marine mammals and protected species. Every aspect of our surveys, construction, and operations are reviewed by multiple agencies and subject to protective conditions, including vessel speeds, time-of-year restrictions for construction activities, and mandatory protected species observers."

Erica Staaterman, a bioacoustician with the Bureau of Ocean Management, said in a call with reporters that the equipment was not intrusive, especially compared to that used in the oil and gas industry. This equipment is much smaller and quieter, she said.

"I just want to be unambiguous, there is no information that would support any suggestion that any of the equipment that's being used in support of wind development for these site characterization surveys could directly lead to the death of a whale," said Benjamin Laws, deputy chief for the permits and conservation division with NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources.

Both NOAA and the Marine Mammal Stranding Center in Brigantine, who have been investigating the whale deaths, have said that many of the deaths can be attributed to human interaction.

About half of the 178 dead whales since 2016 have undergone necropsy, and of those, about 40 percent had evidence of ship strikes or entanglement with fishing gear, according to NOAA.

Another factor may be that as the humpback whale population grows, more are following their prey, which are closer to the shore this winter, according to NOAA.

"More whales in the water and traveled areas by boats of all sizes increases the risk of vessel strikes," said Lauren Gaches, NOAA spokesperson.

"This problem started way before offshore wind development and exploration, and is more indicative of the severe climate change impacts that our marine wildlife experience and an increased number of trade ships," said NJ Sierra Club Director Anjuli Ramos-Busot.

Many marine species have moved to more favorable conditions as the ocean is warming, Gaches said, which "can lead to increased interactions with humans as some whales move closer to near-shore habitats."

"NOAA Fisheries is dedicated to minimizing risks to protected resources, habitats, and managed fisheries throughout the life cycle of offshore wind energy projects," Gaches said.

 

[Michael Britt]

Just because it's "clean," doesn't mean it's "green."

[bushden]

MORE OVER REGULATION ! There is no evidence that the sonar mapping is causing the problem.

[hammer4reel]

Just now, bushden said:

MORE OVER REGULATION ! There is no evidence that the sonar mapping is causing the problem.

The wind project is the biggest waste of resources to ever hit NJ.

the destruction to our marine eco system to fill the pockets of a few is BS.

tons of documentation as well as video how harshly this effects marine life .

 

it’s not even close to being green energy .

‘it’s the least productive and most expensive way to produce electricity.

once the wind farms are built when they fail they become massive pieces of trash out there .

‘it’s too expensive to rebuild them .

where they have been placed in other states the failure rate is 60% in under 5 years .

 

.

[JFC1]

Just now, hammer4reel said:

The wind project is the biggest waste of resources to ever hit NJ.

the destruction to our marine eco system to fill the pockets of a few is BS.

tons of documentation as well as video how harshly this effects marine life .

 

it’s not even close to being green energy .

‘it’s the least productive and most expensive way to produce electricity.

once the wind farms are built when they fail they become massive pieces of trash out there .

‘it’s too expensive to rebuild them .

where they have been placed in other states the failure rate is 60% in under 5 years .

 

.

Can you send on links/sources for wind projects' impacts on marine life and their useful lives, as in the 60% number? I'd like to read them

[Bonefreak]

Was wondering what is killing the whales!!!  Seismic testing for this crap??!!  My bro said the offshore fishing shit the bed too recently. Spent $300 for an overnight and came home only w a few porgys. Team Murphy should have to go clean up the dead whales as their good deed to save Mother Earth 

[hammer4reel]

Here’s a quick one from the block island model that is being used to promote this .

every one built since has  the same issues 

https://www.texaspolicy.com/offshore-wind-farms-are-yet-another-renewable-energy-failure/

Edited January 28, 2023 by hammer4reel

[hammer4reel]

Quite a bit of info here .

https://protectourcoastnj.com/

[hammer4reel]

This shows the area of the wind farms slated for NJ .

areas that have been the BEST fishing areas for hundreds of years .

‘They are going to put a 5 year minimum restricted area during the build . Not allowing boat traffic etc .

billion dollar losses in the fishing community for more expensive electric rates .

A HUGE. Portion of the studies of the effects of all of this were signed off on .

project full steam ahead with no regard to ramifications.

 

.

Edited January 28, 2023 by hammer4reel

[Bonefreak]

3 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

This shows the area of the wind farms slated for NJ .

areas that have been the BEST fishing areas for hundreds of years .

‘They are going to put a 5 year minimum restricted area during the build . Not allowing boat traffic etc .

billion dollar losses in the fishing community for more expensive electric rates .

A HUGE. Portion of the studies of the effects of all of this were signed off on .

project full steam ahead with no regard to ramifications.

 

.

Puke. 

Vote democrat…they F everything up!!   Even centuries old fishing grounds, friendly whales, your wallet, etc. 

[JFC1]

42 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

Here’s a quick one from the block island model that is being used to promote this .

every one built since has  the same issues 

https://www.texaspolicy.com/offshore-wind-farms-are-yet-another-renewable-energy-failure/

Thanks. It's a good start and the whole idea of mucking up spawning and breeding grounds without careful study--and even then--is F***ed.   And wind energy projects clearly aren't "green" the way they're marketed. But I'm not confident yet in a study or policy paper from Texas Institute which is funded overwhelmingly by oil companies like Exxon Mobil, Williams Cos etc.  They have a big stake in the race. Seems like it's pipelines and refineries vs wind farms, and they all rip up and poison the planet. 

I've gotta read more on the Block Island project. 

Not trying to hijack here, but speaking about the RI coast I've been disgusted by guys I know who book charters to fish for huge stripers up there late summer in closed areas. The smart ones target stripers, and adsmittedly don't keep them, but if and when approached by COs are like "oops, I didn't mean to the catch the striper. We're after Blues!" BS. If closed to striper fishing we shouldn't be yanking 40-50lbers out for photos!

[Roon]

1 hour ago, hammer4reel said:

The wind project is the biggest waste of resources to ever hit NJ.

the destruction to our marine eco system to fill the pockets of a few is BS.

tons of documentation as well as video how harshly this effects marine life .

 

it’s not even close to being green energy .

‘it’s the least productive and most expensive way to produce electricity.

once the wind farms are built when they fail they become massive pieces of trash out there .

‘it’s too expensive to rebuild them .

where they have been placed in other states the failure rate is 60% in under 5 years .

 

.

But once they go vacant they'll probably be a great place to catch fish along their structure, just consider them very expensive prefab reefs LOL

[hammer4reel]

5 minutes ago, Roon said:

But once they go vacant they'll probably be a great place to catch fish along their structure, just consider them very expensive prefab reefs LOL

.they make them a secure zone you will never get to fish them 

and this us NJ so more than likely what will happen 

[Lunatic]

Another liberal nonsense. 

[hammer4reel]

19 minutes ago, JFC1 said:

Thanks. It's a good start and the whole idea of mucking up spawning and breeding grounds without careful study--and even then--is F***ed.   And wind energy projects clearly aren't "green" the way they're marketed. But I'm not confident yet in a study or policy paper from Texas Institute which is funded overwhelmingly by oil companies like Exxon Mobil, Williams Cos etc.  They have a big stake in the race. Seems like it's pipelines and refineries vs wind farms, and they all rip up and poison the planet. 

I've gotta read more on the Block Island project. 

Not trying to hijack here, but speaking about the RI coast I've been disgusted by guys I know who book charters to fish for huge stripers up there late summer in closed areas. The smart ones target stripers, and adsmittedly don't keep them, but if and when approached by COs are like "oops, I didn't mean to the catch the striper. We're after Blues!" BS. If closed to striper fishing we shouldn't be yanking 40-50lbers out for photos!

Google the block island failures and pick which one you think most reliable .

end game in all is the project was a failure . And the one slated for here is 100 times larger .

currently a boater at the NJ shore can’t blow out silt build up from their slip without a possible EPA fine , due to dislodged contaminates .

‘but this project is slated to dig a 15’ deep trench totally through the Barneget bay .

 

you realize the damage all the solar fields have caused ? 

It’s now illegal to put them in open fields , as the contamination into the soil from rain run off won’t allow food to be grown there for 100 years .

so now they cut down entire wood lots to build the solar fields .

GREEN energy is about the money being made , not the ecological impact to the earth .

.