Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) today issued the following statement in response to a recently surfaced grant request by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) asking for research assistance and citing “knowledge gaps” related to its unprecedented offshore wind projects along the Jersey Shore:

          “Talk about a day late and billions already spent.

          “For BOEM to concede after the fact that they have ‘knowledge gaps’ is both stunning and shocking and reason to pause the massive industrialization of our ocean.

          “The Biden Administration’s shoddy approval of these unprecedented offshore wind projects without a full understanding of the permanent impacts to our marine environment is unbelievably reckless and irresponsible.

          “The ongoing comprehensive audit I secured from the Government Accountability Office into the impacts of these projects is desperately needed to expose the many gaps and unanswered questions that have yet to be addressed by the Biden Administration.

          “Just last month, the House passed my amendment requiring Biden to certify that offshore wind projects will not weaken, degrade, or interfere with our military and commercial aviation activities.

          “Instead of continuing to aggressively greenlight the offshore wind industrialization of our ocean, the Biden Administration must start heeding—and stop dismissing—the numerous concerns raised by environmental experts, recreational and commercial fisherman, local officials and Jersey Shore residents.”

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