Economic Report Filed with the NJ BPU Estimates Proposed Wind Turbines Off Long Beach Island to Result in Approximately $668 Million in Total Economic Losses, Including 6,700 Jobs Lost, Throughout Ocean County
The Shore Municipalities (Long Beach Township, Beach Haven, Ship Bottom, Barnegat Light, Surf City, Harvey Cedars, Brigantine, and Ventnor City) continue to oppose the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC proposal to build offshore wind turbines just miles from Long Beach Island and nearby shore towns. As counsel for the Shore Municipalities, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. filed a public comment letter on their behalf to address the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ (BPU) planned fourth solicitation for offshore wind projects to be constructed off the New Jersey coast. The public comment letter includes an economic analysis (the Report) prepared on behalf of Long Beach Township by Tourism Economics, an Oxford Economics Company.
Of note, the Report concluded that:
“The proposed wind turbines would represent visual disamenities that would generate negative impacts within the economies of the affected areas of coastal New Jersey. Existing research shows that these negative impacts include reduced tourism as a result of wind turbines being visible from beaches and shores.”
Furthermore, the Report estimates the total economic losses throughout Ocean County attributable to the proposed wind turbines as follows:
“The $450.2 million in reduced visitor spending will generate $668.2 million in total economic losses throughout Ocean County. The $668.2 million in total economic losses will include approximately 6,700 total lost jobs and $47.6 million in reduced state and local tax revenue.”
Joseph Mancini, Mayor of Long Beach Township, said, “This Report confirms what we’ve long-stated – that the Atlantic Shores project will devastate the economies of the Shore Municipalities by deterring visitors and eliminating thousands of jobs. It is imperative that any offshore wind projects are placed far enough out to avoid these drastic impacts, which adversely affect not only the Shore Municipalities’ residents, visitors, and businesses, but all of New Jersey’s residents.”
Vincent Sera, Mayor of Brigantine said, “The Report substantiates the economic impact on our shore communities is devastating, 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 will not stop advocating for the protection of the diverse businesses and residential communities of Long Beach Island and nearby towns,” added Frank Huttle, Partner at Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C. who, together with firm Chair and Managing Partner Michael S. Stein, and Partner Timothy P. Malone, represent the Shore Municipalities. “We urge the BPU and other agencies to carefully consider the Report and specifically the economic losses that are estimated to occur as a result of reduced tourism.”
The Report, “Potential Economic Loses of Reduced Tourism Attributable to Proposed Wind Turbines in Long Beach Island, NJ,” can be viewed here