Ocean County Leader

On Monday, Aug. 19, Stop The High-Risk Power Cables, a citizen group concerned about plans to run what they call “high risk” power cables through Sea Girt, Manasquan, and Wall Township, held a community meeting before a large online Zoom audience.

The group has gained traction in the local community since its formation and held the meeting before over 1,000 virtual attendees about a proposed turbine plan off the East Coast. The meeting was attended by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, and six other panel members, including an environmentalist, local mayors, and citizen advocates who shared their opinions and called for project transparency.

“Our goal was to end the secrecy and shed a light on what is planned for our communities,” said Kimberly Paterson, one of the organizers of the meeting. She added that the turnout exceeded expectations with more than 1,000 participants.

Stop The High-Risk Power Cables describes itself as a bipartisan grassroots group of residents opposing the underground cable that would be part of the Atlantic Shores Offshore Winds South Project.

The meeting featured speakers who oppose Gov. Phil Murphy’s goal to establish wind farms off the New Jersey coast as part of drawing 100% of the state’s power from renewable resources by 2035. Assemblyman Kanitra mentioned that his office invited the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which oversees offshore wind development; however, according to Kanitra, they declined to attend.

While several environmental coalitions support Gov. Murphy’s push for renewable energy—including the National Wildlife Federation and New Jersey Audubon Society—opponents at this meeting voiced significant concerns.

Gov. Murphy stated in a May 28 BPU press release: “Offshore wind development remains a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will result in significant economic and environmental benefits throughout the Garden State.”

The proposed plan by Atlantic Shores LLC includes constructing hundreds of wind turbines off Atlantic City’s coast with a 40-mile-long cable export corridor carrying at least 5,720 megawatts making landfall at Sea Girt's New Jersey National Guard Training Center.

Organizers Lynette Viviani and Paterson noted their efforts aimed to inform neighbors about potential impacts near their homes.

“We can’t find an example anywhere in the world where this much power is landing on a beach,” said Paterson.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith criticized ocean wind projects as "ill thought out" and emphasized his push for federal transparency regarding these initiatives' implications on radar navigation among other factors.

“I have never seen anything in 44 years in Congress so ill thought out,” he stated.

Rep. Smith displayed debris from Vineyard Wind’s broken turbine during his remarks highlighting safety concerns stemming from recent incidents involving offshore turbines.

Sea Girt Mayor Don Fetzer described insufficient communication between BPU officials and local representatives concerning these developments while voicing strong opposition based on various engineering assessments related primarily around proximity issues involving residential areas along proposed routes:

“Sea Girt has been following these events for last fifteen years... being landing point massive cable," he said

Assemblyman Paul Kanitra vowed continued opposition emphasizing financial influences driving rapid advancement without adequate public discourse or scrutiny into potential adverse effects notably referencing upticks whale strandings linked purportedly sonar disruptions:

“What you see with whale directly relates us humans burden prove detrimental effects something,"

Environmental advocate Cindy Zipf founder Clean Ocean Action expressed concerns over broad scope lacking thorough review potentially causing irreversible harm marine ecosystems under expedited federal processes such Fast-41 program accelerating permitting timelines beyond reasonable oversight levels necessary ensure sustainability adherence regulatory standards;

"The scale scope what doing environment unbelievable...lack good governance all stages approval unacceptable."

Citizen advocates like Mike Dean representing Save East Coast underscored magnitude numerous concurrent projects poised transform coastal landscapes spanning multiple states affecting broader ecological balances significantly

"We getting close status-wise here NJ...Atlantic Shores South fully permitted furthest along"

Keith Moore Director Government Affairs External Relations Defend Our Beaches NJ discussed successful past campaigns against similar initiatives urging collective resistance utilizing legal channels alongside concerted civic actions aimed thwarting further expansions deemed environmentally unsound economically unviable longer term perspectives aligned overall public interests;

"I've asked talk how won battle against offshore wind now time win war"

Finally Glenn Hughes founding member Stop High Risk Cables emphasized grave risks associated high voltage lines traversing densely populated neighborhoods posing potential hazards akin Three Mile Island disaster scenario albeit different scale contexts stressing importance continued vigilance active participation ensuring community welfare protected amidst ongoing deliberations regulatory bodies decision-makers involved shaping future infrastructural developments impacting lives directly indirectly affected regions concerned

Paterson concluded rallying attendees commitment sustained advocacy efforts vital counteracting perceived inadequacies current procedural approaches facilitating contested projects moving forward resolutely towards achieving desired outcomes favorably addressing collective aspirations stakeholders involved ultimately preserving integrity locales implicated therein

“Can we stop this? The answer yes can my question you are going stop it?"