Results of poll change when whales and dolphins are mentioned
By Bob Fertsch
A recent survey shows that New Jersey residents narrowly oppose the continued development of offshore wind farms. The results of a Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll taken last week show 39 percent of respondents would like development to be halted and 35 percent in support of continuing the development of the wind farms off the coast.
“If we’re going to meet the Murphy administration’s green energy goals, New Jersey needs to build a lot of wind farms, and fast,” said Dan Cassino, a professor of Government and Politics at FDU, and the director of the poll. “But the administration just hasn’t convinced the public that it’s a good idea.”
Opponents of the project have argued that the development should be halted until a link to the whale and dolphin deaths can be ruled out. This argument seems to be effective. In the survey, some respondents were asked about the offshore wind farms in a question that included a mention of the whale and dolphin deaths. When whale and dolphin deaths are mentioned, 46 percent of respondents wanted a stop the development. 28% of people polled said they would like it to continue, and 25 percent were not sure.
“The argument that the wind farms are hurting cute, smart animals just craters support,” said Cassino. “People concerned about the environment want to have green energy, but put that up against dolphins, and the dolphins are going to win every time.” Based on the poll, Cassino said Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration has not convinced residents offshore wind is a “good idea.”
In the next ten years, approximately 3,000 wind turbines and over 10,000 miles of cables are slated to be built off the Eastern Seaboard, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management. Of those, current estimates indicate that up to 1,350 turbines and 4,000 miles of cable could be off the coast of New Jersey and Long Island, New York.
In the coastal counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Monmouth, and Ocean, the overall results show that 44 percent say that development should be halted, with 33 percent saying that it should continue. 23 percent were not sure.
The phone and online survey of 827 adults in the state was held between April 28 and May 6. Respondents varied in ages, sex and political affiliation.
