Rep. Jeff Van Drew hosted a hearing on offshore wind Tuesday, Aug. 13. Titled, “An Examination into Offshore Wind Industrialization: Part 3,” Van Drew was joined by Reps. Scott Perry (R-PA) and Chris Smith (R-NJ). The hearing followed previous sessions in Brigantine, and Ocean City, Md.
“The deeper we dig into the impacts of offshore wind, the more troubling the findings become,” said Van Drew. “The state of New Jersey and the Board of Public Utilities keep pushing for these projects, even though each new one drives up costs and shifts more risks to taxpayers. We have strong evidence that the construction of these turbines is breaking noise laws and could severely harm our marine environment. The problems just keep piling up. Look at Nantucket—a 100-yard turbine piece falls apart and pollutes their beaches for days. If thousands of these turbines are built on our shores and faced with a strong storm, we will experience an environmental catastrophe. Simply put, the costs far outweigh any benefits.
“Thank you to all the witnesses who provided their time and expertise, and to the hundreds of people who attended the hearing in person or watched it live. I am committed to continuing this fight and I will be taking these concerns all the way to Washington, D.C. to ensure that the interests of New Jersey residents are fully protected.”
