{"id":2033626,"date":"2023-09-15T16:08:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-15T20:08:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-new-jerseys-offshore-wind-development-worries-activists\/"},"modified":"2023-09-15T16:12:26","modified_gmt":"2023-09-15T20:12:26","slug":"in-depth-new-jerseys-offshore-wind-development-worries-activists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-new-jerseys-offshore-wind-development-worries-activists\/","title":{"rendered":"Activists concerned about New Jersey&#8217;s offshore wind development."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fin-depth-new-jerseys-offshore-wind-development-worries-activists%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2033626&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Concerns Over Offshore Wind Development in New\u200d Jersey<\/h2>\n<p>Somewhere off the Jersey Shore, aboard the Parker Pete Express, conservation biologist\u2064 Trisha DeVoe had\u200d a realization\u2063 &#8211; they were too far \u2064out to encounter any whales. She quickly\u2062 spoke with the captain, urging him to steer the boat towards land. \u2062Ms. DeVoe, along with \u200bother \u2064activists on the \u200dboat, were deeply concerned about the impact of wind power\u200d development\u2063 on humpback\u2062 whales, right\u200b whales, and other species, as well as the fishing industry, \u200dtourism, and\u2064 property values.<\/p>\n<p>The Marine Mammal Stranding Center \u2062(MMSC) \u2064has\u2063 recorded a high number of humpback whale strandings\u200b in 2023 alone, which is alarming. Ms. DeVoe expressed her concern, stating that this is not normal. \u2062She attributed the increase in strandings to the significant\u200d offshore wind\u200b activity in the area.<\/p>\n<p>The rapid development of offshore wind \u2063projects along the East Coast, with \u2062the goal of adding 30,000 megawatts\u200d of\u200d offshore\u2062 wind\u200b by 2030,\u200b has raised \u2064further concerns. Activist\u200d Bob Stern highlighted the \u2062underestimated noise from \u200bsurveying devices used in wind energy projects, \u200bwhile David Shanker \u200bof the Save Right Whales \u2062Coalition \u200bNJ warned\u200b about \u2063the potential harm to whales caused by intensive surveying.<\/p>\n<p>Activist\u2062 Bonnie Brady \u2064pointed out the damning evidence of young dead whales, indicating \u2063the detrimental\u200c impact of \u200doffshore wind development. However, government agencies such\u2064 as the\u200d Department of Environmental Protection and NOAA\u2062 Fisheries\u200b have been hesitant to link\u200d wind turbines to whale \u200bstrandings, instead emphasizing the dangers\u200d of climate change.<\/p>\n<h2>The Lawsuits<\/h2>\n<p>Activists have \u200dtaken legal action to challenge the approval of wind energy projects. Save Long Beach Island, led \u2064by\u200c Bob Stern, \u200bis suing NOAA Fisheries and the Department of Commerce over the granting\u200c of incidental harassment authorizations to wind energy developers. They argue that the site \u200bcharacterization for the turbines constitutes \u200ba higher level \u200bof harassment under the Marine\u200b Mammal Protection Act.<\/p>\n<p>Meghan Lapp, representing the fishing\u200d company Seafreeze Shoreside, is involved in a separate lawsuit challenging the \u200bVineyard\u200d Wind project\u200b off the coast of Martha&#8217;s Vineyard. They\u200b argue that the project infringes on the rights\u2063 of \u2062fishermen and violates the Outer Continental Shelf Lands \u2063Act.<\/p>\n<h2>A Government Watchdog, an As-Yet-Unscheduled Congressional Hearing<\/h2>\n<p>Activists have also called \u2062for an investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the impact \u200dof offshore \u2064wind \u2063turbines on\u2064 marine wildlife. Representatives Jeff\u200b Van \u200cDrew and\u200d Chris Smith have been instrumental in pushing\u2064 for more oversight and are working to \u200bschedule a \u200ccongressional hearing on offshore wind.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the ongoing\u2062 surveying and development, the outcome of the offshore wind projects in New \u2062Jersey is uncertain. Activists like Mr. Shanker believe that \u2064responsible development is necessary, but the current approach \u200dis\u200d irresponsible. The vision of\u200b wind\u2064 turbines dotting the horizon may remain \u2064just that if the concerns raised by activists are addressed and \u200balternative\u2063 solutions are explored.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does the \u200dconstruction and operation\u2064 of \u200boffshore wind turbines impact the communication\u2063 and\u2062 navigation of whales,\u200b potentially leading \u200bto increased strandings?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Ed by the construction and\u2062 operation of offshore\u200c wind turbines. \u200dAccording to Shanker, the noise from pile driving and other construction activities can disrupt \u2064the \u2062communication and navigation of whales, leading to\u2062 increased strandings and mortality.<\/p>\n<p>Another concern raised by activists is \u2062the impact of\u200c offshore \u200bwind development on the fishing\u2062 industry.\u200d Fishing communities along \u2064the Jersey Shore \u200cheavily rely \u2064on the\u2063 rich marine biodiversity of the \u200darea for their\u2062 livelihoods. The construction\u200d of wind turbines \u200band\u200b the \u200dinstallation of underwater cables can disrupt fishing grounds and limit access to \u200bcertain\u2064 areas. This\u2062 poses a significant \u200bthreat to both commercial and\u200b recreational fishing, potentially\u2063 resulting in job losses \u200dand economic decline for these coastal communities.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, there are concerns about the \u200cimpact of offshore wind \u200bon tourism and property values. Many people\u200c are\u200b drawn\u2062 to\u200b the Jersey \u200dShore\u2064 for \u2064its natural beauty and pristine beaches. The sight of turbines\u2063 on the horizon can detract\u2064 from this scenic view, potentially discouraging tourists from visiting the area. Additionally, some worry \u2062that the construction of massive wind farms could devalue \u200bnearby\u2062 properties, affecting both residents and \u200creal estate\u2064 businesses.<\/p>\n<p>Despite these concerns, proponents \u200bof offshore\u2063 wind development argue that it is necessary\u200b to combat climate change and transition to \u200drenewable \u200cenergy sources. They claim that the\u200b benefits of offshore wind, such as \u2062reduced greenhouse gas \u2063emissions \u200band \u2062job \u2063creation, outweigh \u200bthe potential negative impacts.<\/p>\n<p>To address these concerns, it is \u2063crucial for \u2062policymakers, developers, and\u200d environmental organizations to collaborate and find \u200bsolutions that minimize\u200c the negative effects\u2063 of\u200c offshore wind development \u2063in New Jersey. This could include implementing strict \u2062regulations and monitoring systems to\u2063 protect marine life, \u200dconducting thorough environmental impact assessments before approving \u200dprojects, \u200dand exploring alternative\u2063 locations for wind farms\u200c that have lesser\u2063 ecological sensitivity.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, \u2063it is \u2063important to invest\u2062 in \u2062research\u2064 and technology that \u2062can mitigate the potential \u2064harm caused by offshore wind development.\u200c This <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-new-jerseys-offshore-wind-development-worries-activists\/\" title=\"Activists concerned about New Jersey's offshore wind development.\">includes developing quieter surveying devices<\/a> and\u2062 utilizing advanced monitoring \u200ctechniques to ensure the safety and well-being of marine species.<\/p>\n<p>In conclusion, while \u200doffshore wind development in New Jersey offers significant potential for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-blasts-biden-after-report-administration-might-use-defense-production-act-to-support-electric-cars\/\" title=\"DeSantis Blasts Biden After Report Administration Might Use Defense Production Act To Support Electric Cars\">renewable energy generation<\/a>, it is essential to \u2064address the concerns regarding its impact on marine life, the fishing industry, tourism, \u2062and property values. Through careful planning, regulation, and technological \u200dadvancements, it\u200c is possible to strike a balance\u200c between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-administration-green-lights-multiple-solar-projects-to-power-274000-homes\/\" title=\"Biden Administration Green-Lights Multiple Solar Projects To Power 274,000 Homes\">renewable energy goals<\/a> and environmental sustainability. By prioritizing the protection \u2062of\u200b marine \u200becosystems and the livelihoods\u200d of coastal communities, New Jersey \u2064can successfully harness the benefits of \u2063offshore wind while minimizing its negative consequences.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>BELMAR, N.J.\u2014The Parker Pete Express, sailing off the Jersey Shore, realized there were no whales in sight. Conservation biologist Trisha DeVoe interrupted her interview with The Epoch Times to ask the captain to head towards land. &#8220;We&#8217;re too far off,&#8221; she said, urging a change in direction.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":152,"featured_media":2033627,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2033626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2033626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/152"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2033626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2033626\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2033627"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2033626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2033626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2033626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}