Clean Energy: Whales and Wind Farms

NJ Governor Phil Murphy has set “bold targets” for clean energy and carbon emissions in New Jersey.

On Thursday, in a speech given at Rutgers University, the governor revealed his intent to push for 100 percent clean energy by 2035.

In addition to the promise of clean energy, the governor has also declared the State will, “initiate the process to adopt Advanced Clean Cars II in New Jersey and ensure 100 percent of new cars sold in 2035 are zero-emission vehicles”.

Whats does that look like?

The advent of clean energy is bringing infrastructure development to the Jersey shore. Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean wind 2 are two offshore wind farms being developed off the southern coast of New Jersey. In one of three executive orders signed by Governor Murphy Thursday morning, tax relief was granted to Danish developer Orsted to facilitate the first of the two projects.

The construction of Ocean Wind 1 has been scrutinized by some political figures and groups; the Long Branch environmental organization Clean Ocean Action, believe the project should not continue until the cause of potentially related whale deaths are examined.

In New Jersey, “10 dead whales — mostly humpbacks — washed ashore or have been seen off the coast since Dec. 1, 2022.” These are unprecedented mortality rates.

What is the cause?

The difficulty in identifying the causes of death, is that in 40% of the cases the whales had already begun to decompose.

The current evidence shows: the ones in tact have scars from being struck by and striking ships, as well as getting entangled in commercial fishing gear.

Some Experts say that the sound pulses created in the ocean by offshore drilling companies preparing the foundation is messing is disrupting their ability to echolocate, leading them to their demise.

The pursuit of a cleaner and healthier environment in New Jersey will undoubtedly be met with challenges and consequences. Consideration is to be practiced in future clean energy developments, if the state hopes to achieve its goals.