Brigantine, Ventnor & others File Lawsuit Vs. Coastal Wind Project

Eight New Jersey shore communities have filed litigation against the Atlantic Shore wind turbine project … on the grounds that it violates the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's coastal regulations.

The eight municipalities are:

• Long Beach Township
• Beach Haven
• Ship Bottom
• Surf City
• Harvey Cedars
• Barnegat Light
• Brigantine
• Ventnor City

Mayors Joseph Mancini (Long Beach Township) and Vince Sera (Beigantine) said that “The DEP Coastal Regulations prohibit development that threatens the scenic view, and environment of the New Jersey Shore and the state agency is expected to issue a ruling on Atlantic Shores next month. But mayors and local officials believe the DEP is too biased to make a fair and impartial decision because of intense pressure from Governor Phil Murphy and his administration.”

This massive industrialization of the ocean will not only destroy the scenic view from our communities, but it will also destroy our local economies and much of our marine way of life. We can't count on the DEP to stand up to this immense pressure from the Governor's Office and make an independent decision, said Mancini.

 

Sera said:

The collapse of two other major wind turbine projects (Ocean Wind I and II) just a few weeks ago has some residents mistakenly believing that all the turbines have been canceled. Actually, the opposite is true. The Governor and his administration are doubling down and pushing for a quick approval of these gigantic Atlantic Shore turbines that clearly violate DEP regulations and threaten our communities, said Sera.

The lawsuit was filed by the law firm of Pashman, Stein, Walder & Hayden P.C.

Law firm partner Frank Huttle III said that “the municipalities do not oppose development of offshore wind energy. We are seeking a fair and impartial decision by the Court to ensure the public rights and interests are protected from an ill-conceived project that would have generational impacts," said Huttle.

Developing.

NOTE: The wind turbines in the featured photo above  are a rendering that was “created using the most accurate geolocation data of the wind turbines available, as provided by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). This data was incorporated into a 3D computer model and overlaid on a photograph taken in Long Beach Township with a 50 mm camera lens, and accurately presents what the human eye will see,” said Mancini and Sera.

SOURCES: Joseph Mancini & Vince Sera.