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JERSEY SHORE: Researchers study wildlife where wind farms are planned

THE DAILEY JOURNAL (October 31, 2008)

by Todd B. Bates, Gannett New Jersey

TRENTON — Ongoing studies of birds, marine mammals and sea turtles off the Jersey Shore have found an abundance of life in an area where hundreds of wind turbines could be spinning by 2020, participants said at a public meeting Thursday. 

Wind turbines pose a risk of collision and/or disturbance for birds and other species, according to a 2006 state blue ribbon panel report.

The studies, which will cost $4.9 million and are overseen by the state Department of Environmental Protection, are under way in waters up to 23 miles offshore from Seaside Park to Stone Harbor, officials said.

We're trying to "figure out where are the areas of sensitive habitat, if you will, areas that perhaps we should think twice about or avoid before we build something," said Gary A. Buchanan, project manager in the DEP's Division of Science, Research and Technology. "The objective here is to try and steer these facilities to areas where impacts will be reduced."

Officials and contractor staffers discussed the studies and presented preliminary results at DEP headquarters during the meeting. A final report is due in December 2009, Buchanan said.

"This is an important study in terms of overall ocean protection policy for the state as well," said Jeanne Herb, director of the DEP's Office of Policy, Planning and Science.

Several companies want to build wind farms miles off the coast, primarily south of Ocean County, and the state Board of Public Utilities voted this month to award a $4 million grant to Garden State Offshore Energy for a pilot project.

The company proposes to build a 345.6-megawatt offshore wind facility southeast of Atlantic City and 16 miles from the coast, according to the BPU. The facility would generate enough electricity to power about 125,000 homes annually.

New Jersey's recently released energy master plan calls for offshore wind facilities that generate at least 1,000 megawatts of power by 2012 and at least 3,000 megawatts by 2020.

At 3.5 megawatts per turbine, 3,000 megawatts would come from about 850 wind turbines.

Through the studies, "we will have data and we will have our generic impact assessment, which will point out . . . what we think are the potentially low, moderate and high impacts of any type of power facility out there," Buchanan said.

Thousands of birds, including some endangered or threatened species such as the osprey, northern harrier and least tern, were seen in the study area this year, according to preliminary data in studies being done by Geo-Marine Inc.

"It's remarkable how the avian behavior adapts to" wind turbines off Denmark, said Jim Lanard, head of strategic planning for Bluewater Wind, Hoboken, which is interested in building a wind farm off the Jersey Shore.

About 2,500 marine mammals, mainly bottlenose dolphins, and sea turtles also were spotted this year, according to early data.

"This is the first survey ever to collect marine mammal data in this part of the world," said Dan L. Wilkinson, Geo-Marine project manager.

Environmental activists said the risks to sea life should be assessed.

The federal Minerals Management Service will require an applicant that wants to build a wind farm in federal waters to do "preconstruction surveys," Buchanan said. "That's where information will come out on more specific impacts and risks." 

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