On March 30, the U.S. House of Representatives passed an amendment proposed by Rep. Chris Smith requiring an independent investigation into the environmental approval process for 3,400 offshore wind turbines along New Jersey's coastline. The amendment was passed during consideration of the Lower Energy Costs Act (HR 1) and is a response to concerns about the impact of the wind farms on the environment, marine life, fishing, tourism, navigational safety and other areas.
According to a press release, the amendment was adopted with a 244-189 vote and is now included in HR 1. Smith justified his proposal as a response to the hasty installation of colossal wind farms by the Biden and Murphy administrations in the nation's most congested port, without a thorough examination of their consequences on various aspects.
“Like canaries in coal mines, the recent spate of tragic whale and dolphin deaths and a well-founded suspicion that geophysical surveys, including the use of sonar may be a contributing cause, has brought new light and increased scrutiny to the fast tracking of approximately 3,400 offshore wind turbines covering 2.4 million acres by 2030—all embedded into the ocean floor by pile drivers—or floated—in the North Atlantic Planning Area that includes New Jersey’s coast,” Smith said during a House debate. “The offshore wind industrialization approval process has left unaddressed and unanswered numerous serious questions concerning the potentially harmful environmental impact on marine life and the ecosystems that currently allow all sea creatures great and small to thrive.”
Smith's proposal entails mandating the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a congressional oversight body, to scrutinize and present a report to Congress on how offshore wind initiatives affect marine creatures like whales, fishing activities, tourism, military operations, navigation and vessel traffic. Additionally, the investigation will cover the impact of severe weather, such as hurricanes, on offshore wind projects.
Having expressed several reservations about offshore wind schemes, Smith stated that the GAO would also be responsible for uncovering the processes used by federal agencies to identify and engage with stakeholders, the adequacy of the comment period offered to local representatives and other concerned parties, as well as the projected expenses and financing structure for the projects.
“If and when the wind turbines go online, vessel navigation—including U.S. Navy ships, merchant ships, fishing boats and search and rescue operations by the Coast Guard—may be significantly hampered due to radar interference,” Smith said referencing a report, "Turbine Generator Impacts to Vessel Radar from 2022."
The report stated that “the maritime community has expressed concern that wind turbine generators, which are constructed predominantly of steel, can interfere with radar used in navigation.”
The report concluded by recommending two things: (1) “filling knowledge gaps through data collection, modeling and analysis and focused research on wind turbine generator characteristics; and (2) pursuing practicable options to reduce interference on marine vessel radar such as enhanced operator training, use of radar reflectors on small vessels, use of reference buoys, evaluation of radar mounting procedures, new radar designs and the development of wind turbine generators with reduced radar signatures.”
