GAO Investigation
Congressman Chris Smith announced this week that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) has formally agreed to launch an investigation into the impacts of the offshore wind development off New Jersey, on not only the environment but the fishing industry, military operations, navigational safety and other areas.
The GAO, an independent congressional watchdog, will investigate ocean altering impacts of the 3,400 offshore wind turbines planned along the Jersey shoreline and will help address the many questions and concerns residents have concerning the unprecedented offshore wind industrialization of the ocean, Smith said.
“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.
He also announced he will be hosting a meeting with GAO and other interested parties in the near future.
Smith requested the GAO study last May in a joint letter also signed by Rep. Jeff Van Drew and other Congressmen as part of the amendment Smith had offered and which was approved as part of the Lower Energy Costs Act last March.
That amendment, which had strong bipartisan support is now in the Senate as part of HR1 which faces strong opposition.
Smith and the other Congressman calling for the GAO investigation asked the committee to investigate all air and maritime safety affected by the turbines, including the operation of radar systems, their impact on air traffic, military training missions off the Atlantic coast, commercial fishing activities, fishing access to the Outer Continental Shelf and impacts on the fishing industry overall. The investigation should also include a study of the marine environment and ecology, including whales, dolphins and any endangered or threatened species, as well as the resiliency of any offshore wind infrastructure in extreme weather events off the coast, including hurricanes
