WASHINGTON – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released its “final Biological Opinion” concerning “the effects of the construction, operation, and eventual decommissioning of the proposed Ocean Wind 1 offshore energy project off the coast of New Jersey on threatened and endangered species.”
NOAA states that the Ocean Wind I project is “likely to adversely affect but is not likely to jeopardize” the existence of endangered sea life or harm their habitats.
Cindy Zipf, executive director of Clean Ocean Action, who supported a halt to offshore wind survey work until more definitive conclusions are available on the spate of sea mammal deaths along the Jersey coast, called the opinion “more alarming than comforting.”
Zipf testified before U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew’s (R-2nd) recent hearing in Wildwood.
Ed Potosnak, executive director of the New Jersey League of Conservative Voters (LCV), has frequently spoken out concerning the importance of the offshore wind plans.
In a press release following the Wildwood hearing, the LCV called Van Drew “a shill for the fossil fuel industry.” In response to this week’s opinion from NOAA, Potosnak said, “We need to keep the momentum going” with respect to the wind energy projects.
Speaking specifically to the potential dangers the wind farm project presents to Atlantic whale species, the NOAA opinion states, “No serious injury or mortality of any ESA-listed whale is anticipated as a result of the proposed project.”
The opinion offers no evaluation of the cumulative impact of additional wind farm projects like Atlantic Shores or Ocean Wind II.
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