Foes of wind farm would not stick to comment on amendment up for vote
PETERSBURG — Township Committee was forced to take a recess during a raucous and unruly meeting Feb. 27, when multiple speakers refused to follow directions for public comment.
It was a packed house, with some toting signs protesting wind farms and the recent rash of whale deaths they believe are linked.
The topic was Ordinance 1-2023, an amendment to the Beesleys Point Redevelopment Area.
Jim Maley, special counsel for the redevelopment project, explained the change would establish zoning standards for only a small part of the redevelopment area, known locally as “the coal pile.”
Maley said the ordinance would allow the developer to move the location of a future electrical substation to make the eventual project built there more congruent.
Maley said Township Committee has been working with PSEG on plans to build an electrical substation, which would be used to connect the proposed Ocean Wind 1 offshore wind farm to the power grid.
The proposal includes construction of as many as 98 wind turbines 15 miles off the coast of Cape May and Atlantic counties to generate 1,100 megawatts of power. Multiple other projects are also in various stages of development for a large area stretching from the northern coastal tip of North Carolina to just south of Massachusetts.
As part of the project, transmission cables would run under the beach and streets in Ocean City, along Roosevelt Boulevard to Upper Township and connect with the substation in Beesleys Point.
Public comment after the ordinance was introduced was limited to the ordinance, the proposal to move the site of the future substation. A second comment period at the end of the meeting is open to any topic.
However, speaker after speaker began long soliloquies about the history of fossil fuels and background of the redevelopment company rather than moving the substation location. Some engaged in arguments with the governing body and audience, which in turn shouted back.
Protesters had gathered outside and crowded into Township Hall as committee members prepared to vote on the amendment.
The wind farm proposal has faced opposition from the outset, ranging from concerns about optics harming tourism and lowering property values to fears of environmental harm and disruption to commercial fishing.
And that was before the whales began to die.
The latest whale carcass to wash up on the East Coast was found March 2 at Seaside Park but there have been multiple deaths reported.
It’s unclear whether there is a connection between the deaths and work to prepare for the wind farms.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, vice chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced Feb. 17 that he would be holding a hearing March 16 in southern New Jersey regarding offshore wind and would be introducing legislation that places a moratorium on all existing projects as well as legislation that would prohibit all future projects.
“The unknown impacts of these offshore wind projects raises serious concerns, especially after 18 whales have washed ashore near where surveying is taking place along the East Coast, six of which have been in New Jersey,” Van Drew stated in a news release. “These projects will have substantial impacts on the local tourism industry, the fishing industry and the surrounding environment. I am holding these hearings in order to discover what exactly these impacts will be and to determine what additional pieces of legislation will be adequate to address the issue.”
Faced with a large crowd overflowing into the hallway, some holding signs protesting the wind farm proposal, committee members preferred to discuss only the amendment.
However, new township solicitor Tony Monzo, Mayor Jay Newman, Administrator Gary DeMarzo and others were correct in attempting, unsuccessfully it turned out, to keep people from speaking to the larger issues when public comment was restricted to the amendment.
Newman asked that township residents get an opportunity to speak before “outsiders.”
Jeff Battersby of Marmora said he supports the redevelopment of the power plant site and characterized the wind farm opponents as “misinformed nonresidents.” He asked the committee to disregard any comments from “out-of-towners with Protect Our Coast,” eliciting an uproar from the audience.
Elaine Holsenbach began her statement with a history of fossil fuels and melting ice caps but was interrupted by Newman, who informed her she could speak only on the ordinance and not broader issues.
“There’s going to be an awful lot of disappointed people here,” she said cordially.
Newman said there would be public comment later for any topic but that this portion of the meeting was for commenting only about the ordinance.
Most township residents speaking supported the proposal as beneficial to redeveloping the property.
Steve Fanelli, who identified himself as a lifelong township resident, said he thinks redeveloping the area is a good opportunity for residents. What he didn’t say is that he represents the United Brotherhood of Carpenters, Pile Drivers & Divers, which stands to gain jobs through the offshore wind proposal.
Multiple speakers continued to wander off-topic and were told they must stick to the ordinance.
The mayor then opened the floor to those not from the township.
“Once again I ask for the decorum to remain in place. If you get off-topic, we will ask you to move along,” Newman said.
Ocean City resident Barbara McCall of Protect Our Coast, a group fighting against the offshore wind proposal, began with a history of the issue and was quickly told she was out of order.
She insisted that she was going to connect the issue to the ordinance but rambled on about research she did into the Beesleys Point Development Group, saying she needed to provide background information.
DeMarzo interrupted and asked if what she was saying was relevant to moving the substation.
McCall said it is, and continued discussing the redevelopment company.
People in the crowd started shouting, McCall began arguing with DeMarzo, even debating how much time she had left, then resumed her diatribe, insisting that the last paragraph would “link it all.”
She then began citing newspaper articles until DeMarzo told her that her time was up.
McCall then raised her voice and continued.
“I say it’s premature for the committee to rezone only a portion of this property that has true monetary value … .”
McCall would not stop speaking even when Newman tried to stop her.
“I’m sorry but this is not germane to the ordinance,” he said.
McCall continued speaking, saying she needed 30 more seconds.
“She’s done,” DeMarzo said, adding there would be public comment later and they would “stay until midnight listening to everyone for five minutes on any topic but this one is specific to the zoning requirement, and if I hear any variation, I will motion to the mayor to discontinue or stay the meeting because it does not belong in this record, it belongs at the end of the meeting.”
Patricia Covington of Pennsauken, also with Protect Our Coast, was up next and tried to continue reading McCall’s letter.
Newman tried to stop her but she talked over him and would not stop, causing the mayor to take a recess.
After returning, Newman once again asked for cooperation.
Monzo said the disorder was creating a confusing record and that comment must be limited to relocation of the area where the substation is permitted.
Things were better after the break but there still was a lot more rumbling than ordinarily goes on at a public meeting.
Heidi Yeh of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance and Sonny Vargas of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters were among the proposal’s supporters.
“It’s refreshing to see a well-thought-out plan,” Yeh said.
Holsenbach, finally returning to the podium, delivered a passionate speech about how wind energy is necessary, only to be booed. More than once she shouted down the protest, saying it was her turn to talk.
Mike Bean of Middletown called the proposal “another example of incrementalism they want to employ to set the ball moving.” He warned Township Committee, Republicans all, that they would be forever tied to President Joe Biden and Gov. Phil Murphy by supporting offshore wind.
Another guy stood up and told committee that God would be judging them before being led out by the hand.
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff