Offshore wind saddles residents with high costs
The Press of Atlantic City | May 6, 2018 | www.pressofatlanticcity.com
The Press of Atlantic City | May 6, 2018 | www.pressofatlanticcity.com
Firstly, I am an advocate of renewable and sustainable energy resources – the hope of the future. However, I have been following the evolution of wind farms off the coast, and from the beginning have wondered about cost, where the equipment was being fabricated and who would actually be running the enterprises.
The promoter here locally is the Fishermen’s Energy Cooperative. The innocuous name of this group/company belies the fact they are a substantial operation, and once approved, the wind power enterprise will be sold to a company based in France.
Another firm in the wings that has already staked claims off our coast is based in Belgium. Seems to me the United States and New Jersey in particular will be cast in pedestrian roles as this venture and others like it roll out under the aegis of companies from around the world.
There is ample evidence the produce from these “farms” will be exceptionally costly to the consumer. They will cause damage to fisheries and avian life. I wonder why our legislators are so enamored with these ventures as they are now structured. I am frankly puzzled and not a little alarmed that such a costly and potentially destructive undertaking will be controlled by players from around the world – and we, the local residents, will get to sit and watch and pay.
Jim McManus
Ocean City
URL to article: https://www.wind-watch.org/news/2018/05/06/offshore-wind-saddles-residents-with-high-costs/