ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — The offshore wind energy sector in the U.S. is gearing up for a response against misinformation being propagated by those who oppose wind farm initiatives. During the opening sessions of a national offshore wind conference in New Jersey this Tuesday, which has become a focal point for organized pushback against these developments, many industry representatives expressed their frustrations in combating intentional falsehoods targeting offshore projects.
Among the claims facing the industry are unverified allegations linking offshore wind preparations to the deaths of whales along the East Coast. “We know it wasn’t us, and we have the research to back it up,” said Crystal Pruitt, an external affairs representative at Atlantic Shores, which has plans for two offshore wind farms off New Jersey’s shoreline. She acknowledged the challenging task is to “prove a negative,” emphasizing the need for the sector to vigorously address misinformation head-on.
Pruitt criticized exaggerated assertions, such as the claim that the sound produced by turbines located 10 to 12 miles off the coast could contribute to mental breakdowns. “Someone needs to affirm that this is not real,” she stated. Paulina O’Connor, executive director of the New Jersey Offshore Wind Alliance, noted that attempts to engage with opponents have not been fruitful. “I don’t think we’re getting through to them,” she remarked, adding that it is challenging to predict the next unfounded concern that may arise.
In the previous year, a troubling wave of whale fatalities on the East Coast led to opponents linking these occurrences to survey activities essential for preparing the ocean floor for wind turbines. Nevertheless, multiple federal and local agencies have reported a lack of evidence connecting offshore wind operations to these whale deaths, many of which displayed indications of being struck by vessels.
Alicia Gene Artessa, director of the New York Offshore Wind Alliance, compared the fight against misinformation to playing a game of whack-a-mole, suggesting that each time local objections seem manageable, new claims surface, often backed by significant funding.
One of the prominent opposition factions, Protect Our Coast NJ, demonstrated outside the conference venue, displaying signs against offshore wind. Robin Shaffer, the group’s president, voiced their discontent with what she described as an attempt to misrepresent the truth by those promoting offshore wind, dubbing it a case of projecting their own misinformation tactics onto the opposition.
The offshore wind industry has high stakes as it strives toward the ambitious goal of sourcing at least 20% of the nation’s electricity from offshore wind by 2035. According to the American Clean Power Association, approximately 65 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity is currently under development in the U.S., capable of powering over 26 million homes. However, several noteworthy projects have been canceled, including two in New Jersey, which were scrapped by Danish wind company Orsted last year. Additionally, concerns were raised after a turbine blade malfunction at the Vineyard Wind project off Martha’s Vineyard, leading critics to argue that offshore wind is unsteady and economically unviable.
Jerry Leeman, CEO of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, criticized the decision announced Tuesday by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to select developers for offshore wind projects at four lease sites in the Gulf of Maine, deeming it a “rushed regulatory process” that disregards the turbine failures experienced at Vineyard Wind. “Vineyard Wind is a slow-rolling disaster,” he stated, asserting that foreign mega-developers and their political associates have compromised safety standards to push through their flagship projects.
J. Timmons Roberts, an academic from Brown University who studies groups opposing offshore wind, pointed out that the dialogue has shifted from outright denial of climate changes to attempts at undermining solutions for climate issues. “The rise of these groups in Rhode Island was disheartening,” he commented, noting that many arguments presented by opposition groups are either exaggerated or completely unfounded, including assertions suggesting wind farms would raise carbon dioxide levels. He further emphasized that the industry must improve its outreach and presence on social media platforms.
