Three anti-wind power groups in New Jersey have filed a lawsuit to overturn a key environmental approval for a wind energy farm planned off the coast of Long Beach Island. The groups, Save Long Beach Island, Defend Brigantine Beach, and Protect Our Coast NJ, are challenging a determination by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection that the Atlantic Shores wind farm project meets the requirements of a federal coastal protection law. The groups claim that the project will damage marine habitats, compress and harden the seafloor, harm marine communities, compromise migration corridors for endangered species, and cause commercial fishing stocks to decline.
The lawsuit is the latest obstacle facing New Jersey’s efforts to become a leader in offshore wind energy. These three groups are known for being vocal opponents of offshore wind projects. The New Jersey attorney general’s office declined to comment on the pending litigation, and Atlantic Shores, the company behind the wind farm project, did not respond to a request for comment. A political strategist accused the anti-wind groups of being influenced by the fossil fuel industry, but the president of Protect Our Coast denied any connection to fossil fuel interests.
Protect Our Coast previously used the Caesar Rodney Institute to hold its money, but has since severed ties with the organization. The Caesar Rodney Institute is associated with think tanks supported and funded by fossil fuel interests. The group’s president emphasized that they have never received funding from the fossil fuel industry. He also pointed out that one of the owners of Atlantic Shores is affiliated with Shell, a global oil and gas company. The anti-wind groups argue that state and federal officials are rushing to approve offshore wind projects without adequately considering potential negative impacts on the environment and marine life.
A spokesman for the American Clean Power Association defended the offshore wind projects, stating that they have been carefully planned and analyzed. The group is confident that the permits for these projects will withstand legal scrutiny. New Jersey’s Board of Public Utilities has recently opened a fourth round of solicitations for additional offshore wind projects. The state has set a goal of generating 100% of its power from clean sources by 2035. Despite the opposition from anti-wind groups, the push for offshore wind energy continues in New Jersey as part of the state’s efforts to transition to renewable energy sources.
