Blue Ribbon Panel on Offshore Windmill Facilities

     The Panel scheduled four public meetings, one in each coastal county, in April and May.  The meetings in Cape May and Ocean Counties have occurred, and the meetings in Atlantic and Monmouth Counties are May 10 and May 23, respectively.  The Panel is accepting comments from officials (4:30-6:30PM; public can attend), and from citizens (7-9PM).  Following the four meetings, the Panel will break into committees (which will include additional members of the public) to draft a report to the Governor.  Once the draft report is released, the Panel will again host public hearings and accept comments before submitting the report to the Governor.

     COA is attending the Blue Ribbon Panel public sessions to listen to concerns and issues.  To date, a variety of issues have been raised by elected officials, organizations, and citizens including the effects on the $30 billion NJ tourism industry, commercial fishing, recreational fishing access, as well as the replacement of nonrenewable energy sources, such as Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant, with offshore wind energy.

     Currently, COA does not have a position for or against offshore industrial wind turbine facilities.  Rather, our concerns are regarding the lack of public policy, regulations, evaluation criteria, and governance.  In this light, a list of questions are being prepared regarding the broad public policy issues, as well as operation and management of the facilities.  COA will present the full list of questions at the May 10th meeting. 

     Visit www.njwindpanel.org, or send written comments to NJDEP, Ruth Ehinger, PO Box 418, Trenton, NJ 08625, Attn: Offshore Wind Blue Ribbon Panel.

Blowing in the Wind off Jones Beach

     At press time, the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) and F-P-L Energy announced a joint permit application to ACOE to build 40 wind turbines about five miles off the South Shore of Long Island.  Call COA’s Sandy Hook office for more information.