Offshore Wind Farm Protest Planned on Beaches

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This rendering depicts what some of the wind turbines would have looked like off the South Jersey coast. (Courtesy of Ocean Wind 1)

Opponents of a proposed offshore wind farm are asked to join at beaches in Ocean City from 14th Street north toward Atlantic City to continue their message that they do not want 98 towering turbines in the waters off the coast.

“Hands Across The Beaches” is the latest in a string of rallies and is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 15. Protesters are urged to “link hands to form a human chain along the water’s edge from 14th Street beach in Ocean City north toward Atlantic City.”

Despite opposition over the past four years, Orsted, the Danish energy company, has moved forward with its Ocean Wind 1 project, receiving state and federal permitting and support for the project. The wind farm is slated to be completed by 2024 and will sit 15 miles off Atlantic City and pass by Ocean City and other shore communities down to Stone Harbor.

The protest is being organized by Protect Our Coast NJ (POCNJ), a grassroots group of people who are concerned about what the project could mean to marine and wildlife, the commercial fishing industry, tourism and property values. They are also concerned that the sightline, which will change due to the turbines on the horizon, would be a blight.

POCNJ members will be on hand with information at the 14th Street beach in Ocean City.