On Sunday morning, approximately 500 residents from Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall Township, and Howell gathered to protest offshore wind projects and power cables planned to run through their towns. The rally was organized by the nonprofit group Stop The High-Risk Power Cables to raise awareness about the potential impact of these transmission lines on local communities and to draw the attention of Governor Phil Murphy.
Protesters assembled outside the New Jersey National Guard training center, where Governor Murphy was attending an annual military review. They held signs and voiced their demands for two hours but did not speak directly with the governor. However, many believe their message was conveyed as his caravan passed by.
Sea Girt resident Alex Fatenko expressed her concerns: “I live where the line is set to go, just eight feet from my front door. It’s emitting so much energy, and no one has ever had something like this installed so close to a home. It’s outrageous. I want to be here 50 years from now, free from cancer or other health risks it could cause. My home is my biggest investment, and this was pushed through with no regard for the people it impacts.”
Congressman Smith commented on the situation: “The rush to install these costly offshore wind farms, with industrial cables ripping through towns like Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall, and Howell, is a disaster waiting to happen.”
NJ Assemblyman Paul Kinitra also attended the rally and criticized the Murphy administration: “The Murphy Administration and DEP don’t care about Sea Girt, Manasquan, or the 10th legislative district. They don’t care how hard you work to live here or how hard your elected officials fight to protect these communities. They see you as elitists and want to take you down a peg.”
Kinitra added that energy rates in NJ are rising because of a lack of investment in traditional energy infrastructure: “We recently held a hearing on energy rates in NJ, and they’re rising because the NJBPU hasn’t invested in traditional energy infrastructure. Instead, they’re focused on pushing a subsidized industry ignoring our current energy needs.”
Madeliene McCarthy from Manasquan stated: “The data shows that this project will never make economic sense, will be a financial burden to rate payers.” She pointed out that basic planning seemed neglected as cables would run through an active Superfund site.
Kimberly Patterson of Stop The High-Risk Power Cables remarked on political involvement: “We have been at this for 5 months… we are fortunate today to have someone who is running for Governor.”
Jack Ciattarelli spoke at the event stating his opposition: “I’m down on Long Beach Island… Let’s make one thing clear; we are going to stop this project.”
Congressman Smith concluded with criticism towards Governor Murphy’s handling of local concerns regarding these projects.
