ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Environmentalists and opponents of offshore wind stood on a beach where the marine mammal lay buried and called for a federal probe into a spate of whale deaths in New Jersey and New York. Groups from the two states wrote President Joe Biden requesting a probe of the deaths of six whales that washed ashore over the last 33 days in areas being prepared for large-scale offshore wind farms. They also are asking for a halt to site work until the causes are determined.
The death total has now reached 8, with another dead whale floating near Virginia Beach.
Last Thursday a 20- to 25-foot-long (6- to 7.6-meter-long) humpback whale washed up on the Jersey Shore. Its remains washed ashore in Brigantine, just north of Atlantic City, which itself has seen two dead whales on its beaches in recent weeks.
“We should suspend all work related to offshore wind development until we can determine the cause of death of these whales, some of which are endangered,” said New Jersey state Sen. Vince Polistina, a Republican who represents the area. “The work related to offshore wind projects is the primary difference in our waters, and it’s hard to believe that the death of (seven) whales on our beaches is just a coincidence.”
The Clean Ocean Action environmental group notes that wind farm site work typically involves exploring the ocean floor using focused pulses of low-frequency sound in the same frequency that whales hear and communicate, which could potentially harm or disorient the animals.
Brigantine’s mayor, Vince Sera, joined in the call for a temporary halt to offshore wind site prep, as did U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Republican congressman representing southern New Jersey.
At a news conference Monday in Atlantic City, the groups calling on Biden to probe the deaths said offshore wind developers have applied for authorization to harass or harm as many as 157,000 marine mammals off the two states.
Of course, Climate Change grifters tried to use the fake ‘climate crisis’ to push for wind farm development, even as the work is killing off endangered species. For Clean Water Action, Environment New Jersey, the Sierra Club, New Jersey Audubon, NY/NJ Baykeeper, and others, the end (the money grift) always justifies the means.
“The climate crisis demands that we quickly develop renewable energy, and offshore wind is critically important for New Jersey to reach the state’s economic development and environmental justice goals,” the groups said in a statement.