Offshore Wind: National Security is the Price We Will Pay

Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew issued the following statement after the Pentagon sounded the alarms on how the development of offshore wind farms will affect our national security. 

"During my field hearing in South Jersey last month, my colleagues and I highlighted the adverse effects offshore wind development would have on various sectors and industries, from our environment to our national security," said Congressman Van Drew. "When whales and dolphins started washing up on our coast, and I called for a moratorium on these projects until adequate investigations were held, it was met with severe opposition. When fishermen indicated their concerns with how these projects will affect their livelihoods, their concerns were pushed aside. When I highlighted how the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) own environmental impact statement admitted that offshore wind will have no impact on climate change, there was no response from the administration. When the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) OWN scientist raised concerns with how these projects could affect the endangered right whale, he was ignored. And when my hearing revealed that these massive turbines could interfere with radar systems and highlighted the warnings from our own military, this administration continued full steam ahead. 

"These warnings can no longer be ignored. This President and this administration continue to disregard these valid concerns, and now the Pentagon is reiterating the potential impacts the industrialization of our coast will have on our national security. We need to put America first and we need a moratorium on these projects before it is far too late."