Fenwick committee urges opposition to wind farms 

Please note Nov. 20 on your calendars as an important deadline for sending comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy (BOEM) regarding proposals for the US Wind Marwin and Momentum Wind offshore wind projects: While it may be difficult for individuals to make their voices heard, BOEM’s hearing does provide an official forum for everyone to express opinions. As such, we urge you to record your opposition for a proposed project that will essentially destroy Delaware’s marine environment and coastal communities.

(To access the BOEM site, go to https://www.regulations.gov/document/BOEM-2023-0050-0001; Click on Comment button; Enter information, Click on Submit Comment.)

Fenwick Island’s Environmental Committee opposes the use of the “clean energy” mantra by industrial forces that will destroy our coastal area’s human and natural environment. In addition, we oppose the unacceptable US Wind Marwin and Momentum Wind offshore wind projects due to the proven negative impact of these plans on endangered species, environmental damage to marine life, adverse effects to the fishing industry, and increased risks to national security and maritime safety.

While we understand BOEM is under considerable political and investor pressure to approve offshore wind projects, these proposed plans do not meet what the National Environmental Quality Act (NEPA) requires of an EIS. As briefly summarized below, there is a long list of deficiencies that require additional review effort:

• Wind farm sales and development by foreign countries endanger U.S. national security.

• Major negative impacts exist in the DEIS for commercial fishing and navigation.

• New studies are needed to determine economic/business losses for tourism and recreation as the original studies by the University of Delaware (Parsons and Firestone) are flawed. Plus, cables will have an adverse impact on the horseshoe crab reserve, which needs protection for medical research. The increased size of turbines will also lead to unintended consequences for marine life, shore visibility and safe vessel operations.

• The endangered North Atlantic right whale (NARW) and other marine life are at risk of extinction due to construction and other operational noises. It is our understanding that the wind industry will be allowed a capricious “kill quotient” if BOEM approves this project.

From additional studies we have reviewed, these turbines will have no measurable influence on improving climate change; CO2 emissions will front load the carbon cost; wind power has no battery storage; irreversible environmental damage will alter the marine environment; and forever chemicals (PFOAs) will be resuspended via cable installations.

What is the connection between canaries in 19th century coal mines and recent deaths of North Atlantic right whales? Both are sensitive to deadly changes in the environment. Let’s heed the warnings of our dead whales! Silence implies consent.

The Fenwick Island Environmental Committee

Co-chairs Susan Brennan and Colleen Wilson

Members Janice Bortner, Vicki Carmean, Debra Cowell, Liz Lear and Pam Pridgeon