We believe in renewable energy, that solar and wind power are critical to the future for those of us here at the Jersey shore and to populations all around the globe.
Climate change is real and the world’s nations are far behind in addressing the pollution created by carbon-based fuels that threaten our planet.
We were wholly unsatisfied with the results of the United Nations Climate Change Conference that finished up earlier this month because it will not do enough fast enough to deal with atmospheric pollution. A world-wide problem demands world-wide solutions. What we got were suggestions, not concrete action.
But rather than focus on what happened in Glasgow, we are more concerned with our dissatisfaction much closer to home, right here in Ocean City.
We were delighted when Mayor Jay Gillian’s administration convinced Ørsted, the Danish company behind Ocean Wind, to come to the resort Nov. 6 for an hours-long forum to discuss the project which plans up to 98 massive wind turbines 15 miles off the coast in the first of what may be multiple phases of wind power projects. That doesn’t include adjacent wind power projects by other companies.
We support the concept of wind power, including off our coast, but before we go all in on any project – especially something relatively new to the United States – we want all the facts and solid research about the potential impacts of Ocean Wind 1 (and Ocean Wind 2 and so on). That includes about the environment, the economy and fisheries – and cost to consumers.
The forum provided local residents the opportunity for questions about the project. In many aspects, the company provided good, solid answers.
On other questions, they failed.
At various points during the forum, we were surprised to hear representatives of Ocean Wind 1 (a joint venture of Ørsted and PSEG) say they would have to research to answer a question. How can you bring nearly a dozen astute representatives from all facets of the project yet still not be able to provide answers?
Our impression is that on some of those questions, the answers weren’t forthcoming because they may have left a negative impression, such as on the contracted cost of power. (Something an audience member provided when the company representatives did not.)
That’s why so many were left unsatisfied and the harshest critics considered it more of a dog and pony show, as one Ocean City Council member put it.
The people can handle the truth. Even wind farm supporters know not every aspect of this project will be sunshine and roses. There are tradeoffs. Spell them out. That may provide more ammunition to those opposed to the project, but hiding or downplaying negatives doesn’t serve anyone’s interest.
Unlike some critics, we were not upset by the fact so many individuals and groups wanted to weigh in. We gave a lot of space in articles in our newspapers and online at ocnjsentinel.com to many of the comments and questions because this project has far-reaching ramifications. We believe in providing editorial space for a wide variety of views and support people having the right to be heard. Stakeholders aren’t just here in Ocean City.
However – and this is a big however – we certainly weren’t expecting the forum to be dominated by speechifying. Even most of the residents who spoke up were more interested in giving their opinions, both pro and con, rather than ask real questions.
That didn’t turn out as billed. The way the forum took place, there was far too much opinion taking up too much of the time. It’s no wonder so many people walked out over the course of multiple hours. Others left after they spoke their piece.
We agree with critics of the Nov. 6 forum that there should be a followup dedicated to Ocean City residents. This resort is being asked to host the transmission cables that would take power from the wind farm to connect to the power grid at the former B.L. England generating plant in Beesleys Point.
Next time, Ocean Wind does’t need to provide a dozen representatives. How about just a few who can answer all the questions posed to them? It would be great to have a representative from PSEG, the partner in all this, the state Board of Public Utilities and BOEM (Bureau of Ocean Energy Management) because they are in integral parts of the process for the approval. We have our doubts the city can convince all those representatives to show up, but it is worth asking.
Protect Our Coast NJ is the group pushing for the forum to get more answers: What is the exact cost to utility consumers? Are Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 just two of the four planned phases and will those phases be closer to shore?
The group makes no bones about its opposition to the project and may not be convinced by any answer provided by Ørsted. We’re not arguing for another forum on the group’s behalf. We’re arguing for it because we know there are local residents who oppose the project and there are residents who support the project. We learned that at the Nov. 6 forum.
More details and answers to all questions will help everyone understand a project that will impact the city for more than 25 years.