Dolphin Deaths Spur Calls for Wind Power Halt in New Jersey

A recent surge in whale and dolphin deaths along New Jersey's coastline has prompted Republican lawmakers to call for a halt to preliminary work on Governor Phil Murphy's offshore wind projects.

The Republicans argue that these deaths could be linked to seabed surveys, which are part of the Democratic governor’s plan to achieve 100% clean energy by 2035. Although wind farms have not yet been established off New Jersey's coast, they suggest that the initial work might be disrupting the animals’ sonar communication, causing them to become disoriented.

“The logical step is to pause all offshore wind projects until we have more data,” stated state Senator Michael Testa, a Republican from Vineland.

On Wednesday, eight dolphins were scheduled for necropsies after being found stranded in Sea Isle City, 147 miles (237 kilometers) south of New York City. Two were already dead, and the remaining six, suffering from an undetermined illness, were euthanized, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Since December 1, at least nine dead whales and 23 dolphins have been discovered on or near New Jersey’s Atlantic shoreline, which NOAA has classified as "unusual mortality events." Investigations revealed that some of the animals had been struck by ships or entangled in fishing gear. The marine life has increasingly been drawn to feeding areas where plankton and other food sources are flourishing due to a cleaner Hudson River.

Last week, four Republican U.S. representatives, including both from New Jersey, led a hearing in Wildwood where invited speakers suggested that offshore wind energy could harm marine life and impose financial burdens on taxpayers. Additionally, state utility regulators agreed this month to seek proposals for a third planned wind farm, as part of the state's goal to reach 11,000 megawatts of offshore wind capacity by 2040.

However, the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) stated last week that no offshore wind construction has yet taken place. In a statement, the DEP noted that "there is no credible evidence linking offshore wind survey activities to whale mortality."