New Jersey lawmakers call for 'immediate moratorium' on offshore wind over whale deaths
Resolution citing 'unprecedented occurrence' of marine mammal strandings comes weeks after state opens up 4GW tender
New Jersey legislators introduced a resolution calling for the halt of offshore wind activities over a recent series of marine mammal death less than three weeks after the state opened its round 3 tender for up to 4GW of capacity.
“The multiple and unprecedented occurrence of whale and dolphin deaths in or near areas of offshore wind energy development may be more than coincidental and warrants investigation by the State and federal governments,” said the text of the resolution introduced by state assembly representatives Gerard Scharfenberger and Victoria Flynn.
“An immediate moratorium on sonar testing and wind turbine mapping for these offshore wind energy projects is urged, so that further scientific study of these projects’ impact on marine life can be conducted.”
A resolution lacks the weight of law and is used to express the consensus of a legislative body.
Offshore wind opponents contend that ongoing geophysical and other survey methods being conducted in the nearby wind energy areas (WEAs) harm the hearing of marine mammals, leading to disorientation and death.
Marine mammal experts and representatives of the federal government disagree.
Offshore wind surveys “don't have the type of impact that scientists expect would lead to these types of strandings,” she said, adding “there's no good evidence suggesting a link between the two.”
“Democrats in districts perceived as competitive where this issue is taking centre stage may [also] support a pause,” he added, noting “there aren't many of these districts”.
“Otherwise, there is still broad commitment to moving forward with wind power, particularly since all signs appear to point to other causes for the strandings,” he said.
Orsted’s 1.1GW Ocean Wind 1 project, located 15 miles (24 km) from Atlantic City, is slated for approval this spring by BOEM). Shell-EDF’s adjacent 1.5GW Atlantic Shores project will receive its record of decision from the bureau later this year.
Demand from New Jersey and neighbouring New York, which mandates 9GW of capacity by 2035, drove prices in the New York Bight wind energy area to a record $4.37bn.
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