By RICHARD BERNARDINI
I am writing to express my opinion on the pending legislation affecting Ocean City Home Rule, but also to protest the misleading graphic that was included with the story. (Referring to: OCNJDaily Story June 18, 2021 — Ocean City is in Real Danger of Losing Home Rule Rights to the NJ BPU)
As I write this comment, Gov. Murphy has not yet signed the pending legislation, Senate Bill #S3926 and Assembly Bill # A5894, on permitting the NJ Board of Public Utilities to solely decide on the permission of the routing of offshore wind power export cabling to land for grid interconnection.
I am concerned about the constitutionality of the law with regard to local Home Rule, but greatly disturbed that the Delaware Bay and River political interests were able to take this action to our apparent surprise. However, you have to realize that the bay and the river areas have started to make significant investments in waterfront development to support the offshore wind industry. Follow the money and job creation; it’s not in Ocean City.
Ocean City’s concerns are view, tourism, whales and various other environmental considerations. The long-term existence of Ocean City rests with climate change, rising sea levels and subsiding land.
The story included a rendering of the proposed offshore wind farm at dawn off the coast of Ocean City as it “might” appear. The rendering is scientifically incorrect. Since the visual aspect of the wind farm is controversial, it is incumbent on the media to present factual information instead of fake news or yellow journalism. So let’s talk about what you will see and won’t see.
You will never see the entire above-water structure of the wind turbine generator on the horizon from the shoreline. Curvature of the earth prevents anyone on shore from viewing the bottom 250 feet of the structure for the closest turbine, therefore only the upper blade assembly is actually possible to be seen.
As one stands on the beach and views the horizon, the turbines are only about 1/4 inch tall. The rendering of the turbines is grossly out of scale. Also, if lit from behind by the sun, one can only see the shadow of any object, it would be black as seen from the shore.
Weather and nautical conditions will prevent viewing the turbines on any given day. Plus, nautical conditions such as scattering, radiance refraction, mirage effect and haze interfere with viewing. At dawn you look through the longest path of light through the atmosphere, which is more prone to optical interference over the ocean. During 30-40% of the year, the upper portion of the turbine may be visible, and this will change day to day, and time of day. (See cloud cover conditions in Ocean City graphic above).
This is science, not opinion. While there are many differing viewpoints on offshore wind, it’s essential that facts are presented.
Richard Bernardini, Ocean City resident
