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2/6/2024 3:19:00 PM
 
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Section 5: States Subject: Offshore Wind meeting Saturday Msg# 1198632
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NOTE: Moved here, from the OP Forum
(your article) " blames the whale deaths on climate change, and warmer, acidic water." There's several significant gaps in those assertions by just one N.J. commissioner, attributing the 2023 spike in whale deaths to climate change. Basically by blaming " menhaden moving closer to shore as ocean temperatures rise." The big news for menhaden is how a decade of conservation has substantially increased their numbers. Catch limits have succeeded very well. Some areas are now seeing the waters boiling with the menhaden bait fish. Clean up efforts, for example of the Hudson River, have also supported those schools of fish to attain impressive population growths. Bountiful & widespread menhaden populations would signal that whales would not be searching for food beyond their normal feeding grounds. Thus avoiding feeding in shallow or warmer waters near beaches. Thus avoiding beaching and deaths. Atlantic Menhaden are found in waters from Maine to Florida so it seems their habitat temps can vary widely, across wide ranges. But climate warming of the oceans has been measured in tiny increments. Yet a side issue has arisen; -- as quoted in one report: "It's kind of a good/bad/ news story of the Hudson River cleaning up and influencing the area around New York and New Jersey in a positive manner," said Sieswerda. "I'm afraid to say that the increase in numbers of whales has increased the risk to those whales, in an area that is the most active port on the Eastern Seaboard… They're playing in traffic." The increased boat traffic, relating to wind turbines, is one of the well known hazards to whales. Sonar surveys of the sea floor before design & construction requires hundreds of trips back and forth across selected, proposed sites. I noted that just one N.J. person was attempting a connection of whale deaths to climate change, but no studies, nor govt authorities nor environmental groups were cited. Sorry Joe, that article appears far from authoritative nor is it persuasive. References: |
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For reference, the above message is a reply to a message where: The topic of whale deaths arises again with another humpback found dead last week on Assateague Island. Recall that in January 2023 this also happened. Here's the most recent one, a photo taken Feb 1, 2024. Besides the local TV report, there's been national news coverage including a 2 min. video interviewing a Congressional member, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, who recently participated in the meeting at the Ocean City Convention Center. To access the video: Click Here Many people may recall that O.C. Mayor Rick Meehan outlined how the Ocean City officials' have environmental concerns from those planned wind projects as well as the threat of significant declines in local tourism. Such wind farm industrialization could cut off a major segment of the resort's sole industry, its life blood, tourism. Throughout that meeting, Congressmen Andy Harris, Chris Smith and Van Drew were joined by experts from a whale protection group, fishing industry interests, the CATO institute and other officials. Numerous environmental impacts were described, endangering the whales as well as commercial and sport fishing industries. An underwater audio (sound) expert testified how intensive and repetitive sounds from the wind turbine projects can disorient whales and injure their hearing, leading to beaching and deaths. Costs were also big concerns, as offshore wind is likely the most expensive way of producing power. The intermittency of sufficient wind blowing, requires that back up generators be maintained, a large hidden cost that's often overlooked. Tax payers are hit with costs of subsidies "gifted" to the contractors, and utility rate payers are hit with large increasing power bills. Despite the recent announcement by Orsted, shelving their offshore project agreement with Maryland, the two US Wind projects offshore from Ocean City are still proceeding. And the Md. Orsted project may later be reactivated, as occurred for two New Jersey projects that had been shelved, a few months ago. No surprise that such reactivations were accompanied by states agreeing to cover rising costs either thru higher subsidies and/or for prices of KWh to be generated. Mayor Meehan expects that US Wind will also be asking for more funding. He told the local press: “The bottom line is that they (Orsted) will be seeking additional funding for their for profit venture. I think that it is only reasonable to expect that US Wind will fall in line with the exact same request. . . " Click Here |
