--Photo by Gary Norton, Department of Energy
Meeting New Jersey’s Climate Crisis with Offshore Wind
The Murphy administration has made the production of renewable energy from offshore farms a priority for New Jersey, setting a goal of producing 11,000 MW from wind by 2035. The state of New Jersey has made significant investments in support of offshore wind, including building the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County and funding a Research and Monitoring Initiative to ensure there will be no negative impacts to the environment.
Visit the NJ Offshore Wind Hub page to learn more about the state’s work over the past few years. New Jersey’s offshore wind projects have also received support from the Biden Administration under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
The first wind farm to become operable off the New Jersey coast will be a project called Atlantic Shores, to be built off Atlantic City. Several additional projects that have won leases from the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management are currently going through environmental and project plan reviews by applicable state and federal agencies.
Ensuring Equitable and Sustainable Offshore Wind Solutions
The New Jersey Chapter’s Offshore Wind Committee promotes the socially and environmentally responsible execution of proposed offshore wind generation projects off of the NJ coast. It is our mission to advocate for the best interests of the ocean, wildlife and local economies during the green energy transition. We work alongside local and regional environmental, community-based groups, meeting with offshore wind companies to ensure that the interests of the affected communities are heard and issues with marine and wildlife are addressed. We are dedicated to acting in accordance with the Sierra Club’s principles of justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
Bringing High-paying Green Jobs to New Jersey
**2019 Block Island Wind Farm Fishing Tour Video**
Video produced by the National Wildlife Federation in 2019
New Jersey is one of the fastest-warming states in the country and has already experienced sea level rise at a significantly higher rate than the rest of the East Coast. Generating power from offshore wind offers an opportunity for NJ to be a leader in tackling the climate crisis while creating thousands of safe, high paying jobs across the State, especially in areas along our shore that have seasonal economies. Offshore wind jobs often offer high salaries, training and good benefits. Wind generation also means future job generation, with the continual need for maintenance, onshore facilities, and enhancements to the energy grid and infrastructure even after construction of the wind farms is completed. Offshore wind farms may also boost tourism, which would further benefit local NJ economies. We want to make sure that there is a just transition to the new green economy: that no one is left behind.
Benefits of Offshore Wind to the Environment
Climate change is causing widespread changes in our oceans and destroying the homes of marine life. It is also changing the feeding and migration patterns of marine mammals, leading to more frequent collisions with boats. This is completely unrelated to offshore wind farms, which haven’t been built yet.
In fact studies show that marine life can benefit from offshore wind facilities. Turbines serve as artificial reefs for marine life, which in turn attract other marine species. The resulting abundance of fish can be extremely beneficial for larger marine life like whales, dolphins and sharks, 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.
Offshore Wind and Birds
Studies have found that most birds live or migrate within three miles of the shore, and that there are minimal bird impacts at 15 miles. Environmental groups convinced the Murphy administration to site NJ’s wind turbines 12-15 miles offshore or more, which is the current plan.
Sourcing some of our energy from wind is essential if we want to transition away from a fossil fuel economy to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Climate change is having a devastating effect on bird populations. Since the 1970s, the U.S. and Canada have lost three billion birds due to climate change. The National Audubon Society predicts that we risk extinction of two thirds of North America’s birds due to global temperature rise. Birds are an important part of our ecosystem, controlling pests, pollinating flowers and spreading seeds to regenerate forests and plant life.
Get Involved
To join us or find out more about the work of the Offshore Wind Committee, contact our committee co-chairs, Denise Brush and Howard Stein, offshorewind@newjersey.sierraclub.org.
Resources
Sierra Club Press Release about Offshore Wind and Whales
New Jersey Offshore Wind Coalition Joint Press Release (1/13/23)
NOAA Fisheries Frequent Questions about Offshore Wind Power and Whales
New York Times news article about OSW and whales 2/28/23
A Primer on New Jersey’s Offshore Wind Industry – Denise Brush – The Jersey Sierran Jan-Mar 2023
Caren Fitzpatrick Opinion Column in Press of Atlantic City (2/8/23)
NJ Offshore Wind Strategic Plan
