At a press briefing held at Seven Presidents Oceanfront Park in Long Branch today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) together with Monmouth County, state and local officials reiterated the urgent need for an immediate pause to offshore wind industrialization and an independent investigation into the potential harmful impacts of the proposed 3,400 wind turbines off the Jersey Shore.

            Smith is the author of an amendment—which passed the House on Friday with strong bipartisan support in a vote of 244-189—that would require an independent study into the sufficiency of the environmental review process for the offshore wind projects.

            “We’re here today to push for an independent investigation into the potentially catastrophic impacts of the proposed 3,400 offshore wind turbines along the Jersey Shore,” said Rep. Smith, who noted at least 11 dead whales, 24 dead dolphins and two dead porpoises have washed ashore in New Jersey since December according to the Marine Mammal Stranding Center.

            The briefing—organized by Monmouth County Commissioner Director Thomas A. Arnone—comes just one day after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the New Jersey wind farms may “adversely affect” whales and other marine mammals but denied the lethality of the turbines’ construction, operation and eventual dismantling.

            “Yesterday, my fellow Commissioners and I passed a resolution calling for an immediate investigation of offshore projects and marine animal deaths along the New Jersey coastline,” said Director Arnone. “We join a growing group of elected officials, residents, and advocates who want to know why there is an unprecedented number of dead whales and dolphins washing ashore, with one washing ashore in Sea Bright as recently as Sunday, April 2.”

            “American democracy is all about consent of the governed,” Smith continued, “and we haven’t given our consent to turn our shore into an industrialized offshore wind farm.”

            “Like canaries in coal mines, the recent spate of dead whales and dolphins washing up on our beaches has helped expose and bring new light and increased scrutiny to a well-hidden initiative by Governor Murphy and President Biden,” said Smith.

            “I encourage all elected officials in Monmouth County to join us in supporting our environment and asking our State and federal agencies to provide ALL of the information about these deaths so that the best decision possible can be made to protect our marine life and our coastlines,” said Director Arnone.

            “Governor Murphy and President Biden cannot hide behind shoddy environmental impact statements any longer—the people of New Jersey deserve better,” added Smith. “We need the truth.”

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