Offshore Wind Hearings This Week In South Jersey

OCEAN CITY, NJ — This week, learn about offshore wind in the area with two public hearings set for March 15 and 16.

The first hearing is hosted by Director of the Cape May County Board of Commissioners Len Desiderio and Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian at Ocean City Tabernacle, meeting March 15 at 6 p.m.

“There have been a lot of questions about what steps the County of Cape May has taken in connection with the efforts of the wind company Orsted to place windmills off the shores of Cape May County,” Desiderio said. “On Wednesday, March 15th, we will provide the public with information, and we want to hear the public’s questions and concerns. We have been working with the City of Ocean City for many months now to challenge the process at the Board of Public Utilities used by Orsted to set aside Home Rule. Our partnership continues, including this first of several Public Information Sessions.”

The two will be joined by former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, Michael J. Donohue, who is Special Counsel to the County of Cape May on windmill issues and other County and Ocean City staff.

The next day, March 16, Rep. Jeff Van Drew is hosting his own public hearing concerning offshore wind. It's set for 2 p.m. at the Wildwood Convention Center. You can RSVP here.

Van Drew has also said that he will be introducing legislation that places a moratorium on all existing projects and legislation that will prohibit all future projects.

“The unknown impacts of these offshore wind projects raises serious concerns, especially after 18 whales have washed ashore near where surveying is taking place, six of which have been in New Jersey,” Van Drew said when he initially announced the hearing.

Since 2016, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has been tracking a growing number of whale deaths, which pre-dates offshore wind activity in the area.

“At this point, there is no evidence to support speculation that noise resulting from wind development-related site characterization surveys could potentially cause mortality of whales,” NOAA officials said.