July 14, 2005
 
Dr. Bonnie McCay
NJ Blue Ribbon Windmill Panel
c/o Governor's Office
New Jersey State House
Trenton, NJ 08625
 
Dear Dr. Mc Kay:
 
We appreciated the opportunity to voice our concerns to the Blue Ribbon Panel regarding the development of Windmills along the coastal areas in New Jersey. After the lengthy debate and discussion involving many different groups, I am still left with fundamental questions and concerns. I thought it was also very clear that all the user groups in attendance, both recreational and commercial, share the same concerns.
 
It is our opinion that the Blue Ribbon Panel must first decide whether if Windmills as a alternative energy source are appropriate for the New Jersey coastline, if they can supply and deliver electricity to New Jersey residents in a cost effective manner and if they are truly in the best interest of the public. It is crucial that these issues are addressed before we can even have a discussion about sighting possible areas for the construction of industrial Windmill facilities. Furthermore, I do not want to provide any advantage for those who would apply for and pursue any permits for the leasing of ocean bottom by telling them in advance where would be a possible site.
 
The commercial fishing industry of New Jersey needs only to point to the situation that has developed in Long Island to illustrate the potential impacts to our historical fishing areas and most productive fisheries. After three years of discussions and the participation of the commercial fishing industry the sight that has been selected will significantly impact the commercial fishermen. In fact the site encompasses 21 square miles of productive and active fishing areas. Incidentally the same company that is involved in New York is also the potential applicants for sites in New Jersey. If New Jersey decides to pursue Windmills, how can we be confident that selected sites will not impact our fishermen?
 
Access continues to be a major unknown at this point and we continue to be left with any real substantive comments regarding this issue, except for the vague comments about the security of these sites that might make them off limits or create a zone so large that they will essentially be inaccessible. As far as their contribution to recreational fishing and the creation of habitat, in many cases artificial structure often and almost immediately attract fish from naturally occurring habitat away from traditional commercial and recreational fishing areas. Furthermore, while artificial materials will create suitable structure for sessile organisms and perhaps some invertebrates they do not increase recruitment or spawning potential for important recreational and commercial species but only create habitat for them to occupy.
 
Another serious issue that remains to be addressed is the Windmill sights will significantly increase the hazards of navigation. Curiously, the United States Coast Guard has not offered any opinion on this issue but I find it hard to believe that they will remain silent due to the close proximity of major commercial shipping routes to and from Delaware Bay. Many of those vessels are carrying industrial materials, hazardous cargo and many different types of petroleum products. Consider the long-term impacts to the natural environment, coastal economies and the clean up cost of an accident involving any of those cargos.
 
We remain reluctant to bring up issues that might be premature but if the panel pursues Windmills as an energy source it is important to discuss the permitting requirements that would be necessary if any were applied for, reviewed and granted. You received extensive testimony form the commercial clam industry regarding their concerns about what would be needed to insure their safety and continued access to any area that would be selected for a Windmill site, our fishermen share those same concerns. Any liability on the part of the commercial fishing industry would have to be waived in the event of an accidental snagging of transmission lines. Extra precautions would have to be made whereby electric cable would have to be buried deep enough to avoid them being exposed by natural processes and related storm events. Lastly, an adequate assessment would need to be conducted to address the impacts of the construction of theses sites, consider the impacts of the enormous volumes of sediments that would have to be excavated and moved to another site. If construction of Windmills did occur, there remains no shore-side facilities to accommodate the vessels and barges that would be needed and it is more than possible that the competition for dockage would result in the dislocation of commercial and recreational access.
 
It was a productive meeting and appreciate the participation of the panel members. It was encouraging to hear that they share some of our concerns, believe in exploring efficiency technology, are aware of other state as well as federal energy policies and have given much thought to these complex issues.
 
We respectfully request that the Blue Ribbon Panel address these concerns and provides a draft as well as final copy of their assessment to determine if the construction of Windmills are a prudent and efficient energy policy. We look forward to productive discussions on these issues.
 
Sincerely,
 
Gregory P. DiDomenico
Executive Director
Garden State Seafood Association
 
cc: Commissioner Brad Campbell