The threat of Offshore Wind Development across New England

August 20, 2024

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:

A BIG THANK YOU TO HAMPTON STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDIDATE LINDA MCGRATH FOR BRINGING THIS AWARENESS FROM NEFSA TO HAMPTON AND OTHER SEACOAST NEW HAMPSHIRE TOWNS. BE SURE TO VOTE TO SAVE NEW HAMPSHIRE IN THE SEPTEMBER 10, 2024, STATE PRIMARY.

THANK YOU TO JERRY LEEMAN, FOUNDER AND CEO OF NEFSA FOR THE AUGUST 19, 2024, PRESENTATION.

The New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association (NEFSA) expresses serious concerns about the impact of offshore wind farm developments. They argue that the public is not fully informed about the scale, scope, and potential consequences of these projects, which they describe as largely experimental and lacking comprehensive data.

NEFSA OSW Report (nefishermen.org)

Key Points from NEFSA:

1. Misinformation and Lack of Data: NEFSA fears that the public is misinformed about the true impact of offshore wind farms. They highlight that the projects are experimental, with insufficient real-world data to fully understand their effects on the marine environment. NEFSA Environmental Assessment Final GOM WEA Comments (nefishermen.org)

2. Seafood Import Inspections: Only 1% of seafood imports are currently inspected, raising concerns about the safety and sustainability of seafood in the context of declining local fisheries.

3. Decline in New England Fishing: Over the past 20 years, 90% of New England's fishing industry has been lost, which NEFSA attributes partly to the pressures from offshore wind projects.

4. Impact on Marine Life: NEFSA warns that continued development of wind farms could lead to the depletion of natural, sustainable seafood resources, affecting marine ecosystems and biodiversity. They cite concerns such as cooling station disruptions, the creation of dead zones, and negative effects on larval resources and shrimp populations. NEFSA Report One Offs (nefishermen.org)

5. Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs): Studies mentioned by NEFSA suggest that EMFs from subsea cables could cause birth deformities in marine species like lobsters, which could have far-reaching consequences for marine food chains.

6. Environmental and Ecosystem Changes: Wind farms are said to alter sea surface temperatures, ocean hydrodynamics, and sediment transport, potentially leading to harmful environmental changes. These changes could disrupt nutrient distribution, primary production, and the overall health of marine ecosystems.

7. Noise Pollution: The operational noise from wind turbines might disrupt fish communication, mating, and spatial movement, potentially leading to significant changes in fish behavior and distribution.

8. Public In.volvement and Moratorium: NEFSA urges the public to become involved and advocate for a pause on offshore wind farm development until more comprehensive environmental reviews and studies are conducted. They call for a rescindment of existing development areas and further research on the Gulf of Maine.

   
   

NEFSA’s stance is clear: they believe that the industrialization of the ocean through large-scale offshore wind projects poses significant, yet poorly understood risks to marine life, local fisheries, and the broader ocean ecosystem. They advocate for more caution, better-informed decision-making, and increased public involvement to protect these vital resources.

The granite state perhaps has fast-tracked this entire process. Governor Chris Sununu signed a 2019 Executive Order preparing New Hampshire for Future Offshore Wind Development. Many elected in the statehouse during this time, including Chuck Morse as well as many other senate members failed to sound the alarm for the public on this important sustainability issue being determined and executed based on incomplete and inaccurate data and review. https://www.lapennaliberta.com/post/silence-is-complicity-chuck-morse-was-silent-during-sununu-s-2019-nh-wind-farm-executive-order

THE CORRUPT POWERS WANT COMPLETION OF THIS MONSTROSITY PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 5. WE MUST TELL THEM NO!