From the April - June 2022 Jersey Sierran
Offshore Wind Committee Report
By Alexandra Horn and Denise Brush, offshorewind@newjersey.sierraclub.org
There are currently three offshore wind (OSW) projects slated to be built off the coast of New Jersey, with more to come! Ocean Wind I and II will be adjacent to one another off the coast of Atlantic City and stretching toward Cape May; and Atlantic Shores will be just north of those wind farms, reaching toward Barnegat Light.
Combined, the projects will supply enough energy to power over 1.7 million NJ homes. Gov. Phil Murphy has pledged to create 7500 MW of energy from OSW, which would power 3.5 million homes. Our state is well on its way to achieving this ambitious goal; Ocean Wind I and II and Atlantic Shores combined would represent the largest OSW center in the United States. We could soon be a national leader in offshore wind.
The NJ Chapter of the Sierra Club created the Offshore Wind Committee in the summer of 2021 to promote the socially and environmentally responsible execution of proposed OSW projects off the New Jersey coast. Our goal is to equitably advocate for the best interests of the ocean, wildlife, and local economies and to promote accurate information about OSW. To begin achieving these goals, we are currently working with a coalition of environmental organizations to develop educational materials that can be used nationwide.
Generating power from offshore wind offers an opportunity for New Jersey to be a leader in tackling the climate crisis while creating thousands of safe, high paying jobs, especially in areas along our shore that have seasonal economies. Offshore wind jobs offer training and good salaries and benefits, not just during construction but during maintenance and operation.
For marine life, the climate crisis is well underway, and we owe it to these creatures to act. Turbines serve as artificial reefs, which attract and harbor marine species. The resulting abundance of fish can be extremely beneficial for larger marine life, as well as for the fishing industry. New Jersey’s current offshore wind plans incorporate safety measures and construction restrictions that benefit marine life and go beyond what is already required by law.
The OSW committee also considered the potential impacts on birds. Studies have found that most birds live or migrate within three miles of the shore. The current plan is to locate the turbines at least 12 to 15 miles out to sea. At that distance, the risk of collision for migratory birds is extremely low. As a safeguard, the turbines can be shut down should migratory birds pass through.
Our ocean and our shore communities deserve better than the effects of climate change. OSW can play an important role in climate change mitigation.
For more information about the work of the Offshore Wind Committee, visit our issues page on the NJ Chapter website and keep an eye out for our toolkit coming soon!