It's been a while since I've had to write one of these things, and I am not happy about this now. This is especially maddening as it furthers the ruinous renewable fever dreams of rodential New Jersey governor Phil Murphy.
GGGRRRRRR
Feds approve construction of the 2.8 GW Atlantic Shores wind farm off NJ coast. The first phase of the Atlantic Shores project aims to start construction next year and connect to the grid by 2029. It’ll still have to beat legal challenges to get there...https://t.co/5CWMCepa3c
— Jesse D. Jenkins (@JesseJenkins) October 4, 2024
We can't boot the Biden-HARRIS administration and "adios, pendejo" to the verminous NJ chief executive soon enough.
The trick is going to be trying to move them out with a minimal amount of damage, as they are determined to foist as many projects on their citizens as possible in the few remaining months of their imperial reigns.
So, today's bad news for the beleaguered coast of the Garden State concerns a massive wind farm project called 'Atlantic Shores 1 and 2."
I always marvel at the lovely, benign names they give these abominations - as if they were a new affordable retirement community in South Florida in a developer's pitch or something. Like, who wouldn't want one, right?
VISIT LOVELY, BREEZY ATLANTIC SHORES - HOMESITES FROM $200K AVAILABLE
Only they're not. They're hideous, expansive, ruinously expensive ocean-life decimating eyesores and potential catastrophes waiting to happen.
This map gives you an idea of how close to "thuh shew-ah" this project will be sited.
No other state will have this many turbines, this close to its shoreline, making NJ the most industrialized coastline in America. pic.twitter.com/DVCPiQTEH4
— SaveLBI (@saveLBIorg) February 23, 2024
Not to mention, NJ residents on the shore won't just see the turbines night and day. They'll hear them across the water.
OFFSHORE WIND NOISE POLLUTION
— Robert Rand (@robertwrand) September 25, 2024
NOT CLEAN, NOT GREEN, NOT EVER
Atlantic Shores South and North, average A-weighted noise levels. Fluctuations run 6 to 11 dB over average.
Are homeowners and hotels ready?
All low frequency noise, whump whump, boots in a dryer, intruding into… pic.twitter.com/U930RVQFYU
...All low frequency noise, whump whump, boots in a dryer, intruding into homes even with windows closed. Frequency chart for homes in Brigantine, NJ.
Independent calculation using Swedish offshore wind turbine propagation model and cylindrical propagation beyond 700 meters (from measurements), 357 turbines with sound power level estimated at 118 dBA re 1pW.
The noise consultant estimated that these conditions would be present at least one-third of the year.
And the wind farm itself is, to borrow a phrase, gonna be YUGE.
Owned by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a 50-50 venture by Shell and EDF Renewables, the project received approval of air permits from the Environmental Protection Agency and of construction and operation permits from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Tuesday.
The developer plans to install a total of about 200 wind turbines in federally owned waters between 10 and 20 miles off the Jersey shore. It’s also working with utilities to build several offshore substations and two undersea transmission lines that will connect the project to the grid near Atlantic City and farther north in Monmouth County, New Jersey.
Construction on phase one of the recently approved project, known as Atlantic Shores South, is set to begin in 2025, and it could start sending power to the grid in 2028 or 2029, according to the developer. The second phase of the project was also approved, but there is no timeline for its construction yet.
If completed as planned, the project’s two phases will be able to deliver a total of 2.8 gigawatts of electricity to the grid, making it one of the largest clean energy projects in America. It will also be the first offshore wind array for New Jersey, a state banking on the power source in order to hit its clean energy goals.
It's going to be the "first offshore wind array" for the state because all of Murphy's other deals have gone tips up, and thank God.
There's always the big talk about the jobs these projects create and the "electricity to power a million homes" they dangle as a carrot.
...The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) granted Construction and Operations Plan (COP) approvals for Projects 1 and 2, which together will generate enough renewable energy to power over 1 million New Jersey homes.
"This is a significant milestone for New Jersey's clean energy future," said Joris Veldhoven, CEO of Atlantic Shores. "With these approvals, we can begin construction on Project 1 next year, bringing thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic investment to the state."
Atlantic Shores Projects 1 and 2 will collectively produce 2,800 megawatts (MW) of clean, renewable energy. Project 1, the state's first offshore wind farm, will help New Jersey achieve its goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035.
"Offshore wind is a key part of our plan to combat climate change and create a stronger economy," said Governor Phil Murphy. "Today's announcement brings us one step closer to realizing that vision."
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Of course, that's only when the wind's blowing...
Blackout Bowen says wind energy is reliable but he’s wrong. Here's what an offshore wind farm often looks like. It's producing zero 🔌 & needs lots of grid power to run. Even spinning it mostly produces well below its capacity. #NuclearEnergy #ClimateCult pic.twitter.com/5OB1FXV2E7
— Black Semi Fascist (@BFacist) October 4, 2024
...or when it's blowing too much, making excess electricity that the agreement says has to be paid for by who again?
Oh, yes - the ratepayers who have already taken a bath putting these monstrosities in.
Kincardine Offshore Windfarm is doing GREAT! Let’s build more! 🤡 £46m cost to produce £13m power. And that’s WITH a £31m subsidy. pic.twitter.com/n0pQkF1cnH
— Aaron (@ajbkt) October 3, 2024
If they get built at all. Fortunately, economics and fierce public resistance have held them off so far.
This project isn't going to be any different and may have the added blessing of an incoming anti-wind Trump administration to put the final kibosh on it.
For one thing, formerly taciturn fishermen's groups, in all professional, sport, and pleasure categories, have been banding the power of their organizations together, raising joined voices in protest, and commissioning their own studies while tracking down the research. No one is willing to swallow the government's "this doesn't impact anybody's anything" pablum anymore.
In many instances, it's turning out their instincts and observances, honed after years on the water, have been right all along.
— New Jersey Project (@fight4newjersey) October 3, 2024
Just more ammunition for the challenges.
Community groups, politicians, and everyday citizens of all stripes and political affiliations have come together in order to take a united stand against the renewable onslaught. They share information and tactics that work and have gotten so much practice in the battle that they now know what to look for when the proposals hit the table.
Save Long Beach Island is one of the unflagging warriors in the fight, particularly in NJ, and they noticed something wrong with the Atlantic Shores' paperwork right off.
The Biden administration, no doubt with Murphy urging them on, was in such a rush to get this thing approved and on the books, the government blessed it without a clean-up plan is something went awry.
After Nantucket, this is unacceptable.
— Jody Baldwin Stone (@TheStonesEG) October 3, 2024
"After Nantucket"? Holy crap - ya think?
This is SLBI's notice of intent to sue to the federal agencies involved.
Makes me smile.
There are more anti-Atlantic Shores forces already marshaling, as well.
New Jersey ratepayers could pay billions more if Atlantic Shores wind goes through
— ☕ Wαƙҽ Uρ NJ 🇺🇸 (@wakeupnj) September 22, 2024
Contact the council in the quote tweet and tell them NO to offshore wind in AC
This "green" push destroying not only the creatues of our planet, our economy, our environment & now our wallets… https://t.co/LVQmrIZmkE pic.twitter.com/udTvzbyvDw
Not a pylon will go in without a fierce fight, and good on then.
November 5 may play a big role, too, in finally putting these monsters to bed.
Join the conversation as a VIP Member