Jersey Coast Anglers Association is made up of Recreational Fishing Clubs throughout New Jersey. There are many options on this topic both pros and cons. Wherever you may stand on this or another topic, we all need to continue to research and learn as much as we can. In the JCAA October General Membership Meeting a vote was taken and passed by the club representatives to pause or delay the Offshore Electricity Producing Wind Turbines (Windmills). As JCAA President, I sent letters to New Jersey Governor Philip D. Murphy, Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Luke Feinberg. Below is the text of the letter sent to Governor Murphy.
The Jersey Coast Anglers Association (JCAA) is an association representing fishing clubs, diving clubs, outdoor activity clubs, and coastal advocacy clubs throughout the State of New Jersey. The JCAA has been doing this since 1981. The JCAA has and continues to endorse "Green Energy." However, the proposed Offshore Electricity Producing Windmill projects have associated with them, many questions and concerns regarding the construction and operation of these windmills. As of this date, these questions and concerns have not been adequately addressed.
Therefore, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association is requesting that the proposed Offshore Electricity Producing Wind milt projects be paused or delayed until the questions and concerns are satisfactorily addressed. These questions and concerns include the location of the windmills, the logistics involved in their construction, the effect upon marine life, including marine mammals, fish, and shellfish, access to the areas around and in closed proximity to the windmills, responsibilities for security, and ultimately the cost of the electricity produced by these windmills. Other questions include the cost of the construction of these windmills and impact upon the taxpayers of the State of New Jersey, and the schedule for the const ruction of these windmills. The problems with these two issues have already become apparent with the termination of plans by several companies planning to construct these windmills, due to increased costs that these private companies were looking to New Jersey, to pay, in addition to public funding that they have already received. It is not known what action the State of New Jersey is taking to recover monies already paid to these companies that have defaulted on their contracts. There is also concern regarding the electric cables that will tie the windmills together and then transmit the electricity onshore. The construction of these cables which are to be buried will cause major disturbance to the sea floor. This disturbance will need to be minimized to the greatest extent possible during and after construction. Many cables have been constructed, previously, but generally not as large a diameter as needed for these windmills.
The Jersey Coast Anglers Association also objects to the removal of the local review and approval process associated with the Offshore Electricity Producing Windmills, particularly as it pertains to the route and landing of the cables carrying the electricity onshore to the transformer stations and giving this sole authority to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJPBU). The NJBPU has no expertise in this area, nor does it share the concerns of the local populace.
Therefore, the Jersey Coast Anglers Association member clubs, and their respective members are hereby requesting that the State of New Jersey pause or delay the proposed Offshore Electricity Producing Windmill Projects until the many questions and concerns are satisfactorily addressed. This is in the best interest of all the citizens of the State of New Jersey.
