March 23, 2023 — U.S. Congressman Chris Smith attended a hearing on offshore windarms in New Jersey and slammed President Joe Biden and Governor Phil Murphy over what he called the harmful environmental impact 3,500 wind turbines could have on the coastal ecosystem.
Smith said the President and governor’s rush to install nearly 3,500 wind turbines off the coast of New Jersey without sufficient study on their impact on the environment, marine mammals, the fishing industry, tourism and navigational safety was reckless.
“The wind farm approval process has been shoddy at best, leaving unaddressed and unanswered numerous serious questions concerning the extraordinarily harmful environmental impact on marine life and the ecosystems that allow all sea creatures great and small to thrive,” Smith said. “Without serious, aggressive, and independent analysis on the ocean-altering impact of these projects, they must be paused.”
Smith cited a Carnegie Mellon study that noted “There is a very substantial risk that Category 3 hurricanes can destroy half or more of the turbines at some locations,” as an example of these issues.