A growing number of elected county, state, and federal officials in New Jersey are seeking a halt to offshore wind turbine work, along with an independent investigation into why dead whales and dolphins have been washing up on the state’s beaches.
“The whales are the canaries in the coal mine; they’re telling us something we all need to listen to,” U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said during a press conference at Seven Presidents Park in Long Branch, New Jersey, on April 5.
Smith and Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.) have introduced a measure that calls for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) investigation into the deaths. Smith said it’s no accident that government scientists don’t seem to know or care why the animals are dying.
“It’s a very well-hidden initiative by our governor and President Joe Biden,” Smith said.
Smith and Van Drew’s bill comes simultaneously as legislation filed by two New Jersey state Assembly members.
Assemblyman Gerry Scharfenberger and Assemblywoman Vicky Flynn introduced Assembly Resolution 181, calling for a moratorium on sonar surveys and wind turbine mapping off the state’s coast.
Scharfenberger told reporters that any investigation must be done by “parties with no connection to any of this.”
Monmouth County officials have adopted a resolution calling for an investigation, county Commission Director Thomas Arnone said. He said commissioners must protect public assets such as the oceanfront Seven Presidents Park.
“It’s our job to protect this. It’s a simple equation, just stop, investigate, and tell us why,” Arnone said.
The wind turbine work has stirred controversy on both coasts with reports of dead marine mammals, complaints from the commercial fishing industry, and coastal communities concerned over the possible effects on tourism.
Scientists and officials with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have steadily maintained that there’s no evidence that the work harms marine life. On April 4, the federal agency issued a report that acknowledged that a project slated to be built off the southern New Jersey coast could “adversely affect” whales and other marine mammals but denied it could seriously harm or kill them.
Smith told the media that “adverse effect” actually means to “do serious, serious harm.”
“We’re going to see even more whales washing up on our shores as time goes on and more of this is done,” he said.
According to the New Jersey-based Marine Mammal Stranding Center, 25 dolphins and eight whales have been found in New Jersey this year. Dozens more have been reported up and down the East Coast since December 2022.
Smith said his request for a GAO investigation was approved by the House on a bipartisan vote of 244–189, with 28 Democrats supporting the plan. He said he wants the GAO to investigate because it has proven to be an independent office.
He said he doesn’t trust the NOAA to be objective.
“The government scientists are all conforming to the end goal,” Smith said. “To build wind turbines.”
He said the whales are only the beginning of problems that have been glossed over and ignored. He said there’s evidence the towers will interfere with radar, making navigation in the area difficult. He also said a Category 3 storm could topple the structures.
“We’ll have junk sitting out in our water,” Smith said.
