{"id":252800,"date":"2023-04-14T12:37:36","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T10:37:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=252800"},"modified":"2023-04-14T12:37:47","modified_gmt":"2023-04-14T10:37:47","slug":"offshore-wind-opponents-rally-in-trenton-call-for-halt-of-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/climatescience.press\/?p=252800","title":{"rendered":"Offshore wind opponents rally in Trenton, call for halt of projects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


From Down Beach<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By MADDY VITALE<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Protesters rally in Trenton to oppose the construction of offshore wind farms along the coast. (Photo courtesy of Protect Our Coast NJ Facebook page)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TRENTON \u2013 The message was clear: Halt all work on wind farm projects up and down the coast until the answer to the recent spate of whale and dolphin deaths can be determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Protect Our Coast NJ, an independent grassroots organization opposed to offshore wind energy farms, held a rally Thursday at the Trenton State House Annex to demand that Gov. Phil Murphy halt the projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Numerous advocacy groups, some formed to address what they call the \u201ctransformative industrialization\u201d of the ocean, have been speaking out against the construction of offshore wind farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just a mom from Ocean City. I am not a global speaker. I am not a political anything. I\u2019m not an activist of any kind,\u201d said Suzanne Hornick, of Ocean City, one of the founders of Protect Our Coast NJ. \u201cI\u2019m just a mom who cares about my beach, my environment, my ocean.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the rally, wind farm opponents held signs that read, \u201cStop the Wind Farms,\u201d \u201cMurphy Sold Our Coast,\u201d \u201cDon\u2019t Touch Our Ocean,\u201d \u201cStop Ocean Surveying\u201d and \u201cSave Our Whales.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They applauded, cheered, and at times chanted \u201cSave Our Whales\u201d and \u201cStop the Wind Farms\u201d during the hour-plus-long rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They also presented an online petition that has nearly 500,000 signatures. The petition demands a halt on wind farm projects following the whale deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Since December, at least 30 dead whales have washed up on the East Coast shoreline, including 10 in New Jersey. On March 21, eight dolphins beached themselves in Sea Isle City. Two of the dolphins died almost immediately, while six others were euthanized after their condition deteriorated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Gov. Murphy, a strong supporter of offshore wind technology, wants New Jersey to become a leader in green energy. So far, New Jersey has approved three offshore wind farms and is looking to add more. Murphy\u2019s goal is to have offshore wind farms producing 11,000 megawatts of power in New Jersey by 2040.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He has continued to say that there is no proof that the deaths are connected to sonar mapping of the seabed for wind farms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some lawmakers, including state Assemblymen Antwan McClellan and Erik Simonsen, spoke out strongly against the wind farm projects at the rally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

McClellan and Simonsen represent the First Legislative District, which includes all of Cape May County and parts of Atlantic and Cumberland counties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnytime you puncture our ocean floor and put four acres of rock around it and run cables on the shore, it\u2019s not a good thing,\u201d Simonsen said of the proposed wind turbines. \u201cThis whole thing has been a money grab. It doesn\u2019t produce enough energy. And, for those who didn\u2019t know, turbines are not recyclable. Where they get green energy from, I do not know. I think it\u2019s just about greenbacks \u2014 that\u2019s money in their pocket.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, at podium, speaks about the petition. (Photo credit: Robin Shaffer)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like Simonsen, McClellan said there was only one thing to do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s time for us to take our seas back,\u201d he shouted into the microphone. \u201cWe\u2019re tired of all those selective environmentalists.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He said sonar testing is \u201cscaring the animals.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to stand up for the coast. We need to stand up for the communities and we need to stand up for our rights. Let\u2019s continue to fight,\u201d McClellan said. \u201cLet\u2019s continue to make sure we fight for our animals and fight for our Jersey Shore. We won\u2019t let them kill our tourism, our animals or our Jersey Shore.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, whose district includes the shore towns of Atlantic and Cape May counties, introduced a resolution earlier this month calling for a congressional investigation of the potential negative impacts of offshore wind development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resolution demands the halt of wind farm activity pending an investigation of the cause of the whale deaths.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a related development involving the wind farm activity, Van Drew\u2019s amendment to the Lower Energy Costs Act passed the House of Representatives on Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Lower Energy Costs Act is essential in relieving Americans\u2019 burden at the pump and regaining American energy independence,\u201d Van Drew said in a release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n