Will it be legitimate? And will it make a difference? That remains to be seen, but the Government Accountability Office (GAO) plans to probe the impacts of offshore wind development off of the coast of New Jersey. Rep. Chris Smith (R, NJ-04) announced the independent watchdog’s decision on Thursday. The news of a formal investigation comes at a time when the wind industry itself is in the grip of a funding crisis that could end in a government bailout.
Possible avenues of investigation include maritime radar, air and maritime safety, commercial fishing impacts and the overall effect of marine mammals.
“This aggressive, independent investigation into the ocean-altering impacts of the 3,400 offshore wind turbines slated for the Jersey Shore will help address the wide-ranging questions and concerns that the Biden Administration and Governor Murphy continue to dismiss as they plow full steam ahead with this unprecedented offshore wind industrialization of our shore,” Smith said following GAO’s acceptance of his request to investigate. “It is absolutely critical that New Jersey residents understand all the impacts of these offshore wind projects—which will permanently transform our marine environment and seascape and could put our tourism-drive economy at grave risk—before it’s too late,” said Smith.
Smith’s May 15th letter was joined by House Natural Resources Committee Chair Bruce Westerman of Arkansas, Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, and New Jersey’s Rep. Jeff Van Drew of the Second Congressional District.
The long-serving congressman recently sponsored a legislative amendment (adopted 244-189) which would also require a parallel investigation but isn’t expected to advance in the Democrat-controlled Senate.
“With so much at stake and out of an abundance of caution and concern, these offshore wind projects must be at a minimum paused until the Government Accountability Office concludes its study,” adde Smith.
