Georgetown, George Mason Collegians Submit Public Comments Against Offshore WindNate MyersOctober 18, 2024
One of the cornerstones of American democracy is the right of any voter to weigh in on public policy proposals. Along with campus activism, we encourage our CFACT Collegians to do just that. After all, tyranny and bureaucracy only grow in the absence of an informed and concerned citizenry.
Georgetown University graduate student A.J. Conte (pictured above) and George Mason University student Austin Crockett (pictured below) are among the latest to do so, this time speaking out against the proposed leasing of Atlantic continental shelf for the construction of offshore wind farms.
Both students submitted their comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) website, which you can read in full below:
“Hello,
I am a graduate student attending Georgetown University writing to express my opposition to the proposed commercial wind power leasing on the Central Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. This proposal presents multiple serious concerns, including the environmental impact and the potential harm to local economies.
The Central Atlantic waters are home to numerous whale species whose habitats and migration patterns could be severely disrupted by the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines. The noise and pollution caused by these installations can lead to long-term displacement and accidental deaths, which will have a lasting impact on critical ecosystems. These disruptions could have lasting unintended consequences for the biodiversity and the overall health of the marine environment for decades to come.
This proposal also clearly poses a direct threat to the commercial fishing industry, which is a vital part of the economy in this region. Many important fishing grounds off the coast fall within the proposed lease area. Limiting access to these waters would directly harm the livelihoods of thousands of workers, and the financial fallout would cause significant economic damage to the communities that rely on these industries.
Given these significant risks, I strongly urge BOEM to reconsider moving forward with this proposal. It is crucial to explore alternative solutions that minimize potential economic and environmental harm, and ensure a thorough review of the potential consequences.
I respectfully request that BOEM consider extending the public comment period for this proposal to allow for more comprehensive input from all relevant stakeholders that would be impacted by a proposal of this scale. Careful consideration and more time for the public to engage in the decision-making process is crucial here. As a student worried about the economic landscape I will soon be stepping out into, it is my sincere hope that you will take my comments seriously.
Sincerely,
A.J. Conte”
“Dear Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
My name is Austin Crockett. I run the George Mason University chapter of CFACT (Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow). I make this comment as a young American concerned with the direction of energy production in our country, and as a response to the proposed leasing of continental shelf off the coast of Virginia to construct wind turbines.
Though there may be minimal energy benefits for the communities local to the area, I believe the proposed wind power turbine development should not occur, as it creates a multitude of dangers for the critically endangered North American Right Whale population. It is well documented that marine-based wind farms create a “wall of noise” that severely disrupt whales’ echolocation, which can confuse the poor creatures and cause them to wander into boating lanes where they can be maimed or even killed. Additionally, the proposed location of the windfarm sits directly in the path of the North American Right Whale’s migratory and breeding grounds.
Wind turbines can be as dangerous to wildlife above the waves as they are below. With short lifespans of 20 years that require constant maintenance, oil, lubricants, and plastic pieces often come off the turbines and create pollution in waters below. This is obviously hazardous to ocean wildlife, as they may end up consuming small pieces of plastic or swim in the water tainted with harmful chemicals. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of birds that wind turbines kill every single year. CFACT Collegians believe that the environment should always be taken into full consideration when dealing with issues such as energy generation. How are machines that pollute the environment and kill wildlife “green” or “clean?”
Along with environmental concerns, the wind farm will also be very costly to American citizens and inevitably overfunded by the federal government. Study after study shows that wind energy cannot compete with traditional energy sources. Why are we spending so much money on an energy project that won’t be able to compete with other energy production methods such as natural gas or nuclear? We should be pursuing energy production that doesn’t financially burden the American people and doesn’t pollute our waters or killing wildlife.
Taking these facts into consideration, it’s clear that these wind turbines are not a good idea for our environment or economy, and thusly there should be no leasing of continental shelf or offshore wind farm development of any kind in the proposed area. I hope BOEM takes my comment into consideration when making their decision. Thank you.
One of the cornerstones of American democracy is the right of any voter to weigh in on public policy proposals. Along with campus activism, we encourage our CFACT Collegians to do just that. After all, tyranny and bureaucracy only grow in the absence of an informed and concerned citizenry.
Georgetown University graduate student A.J. Conte (pictured above) and George Mason University student Austin Crockett (pictured below) are among the latest to do so, this time speaking out against the proposed leasing of Atlantic continental shelf for the construction of offshore wind farms.
Both students submitted their comments to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) website, which you can read in full below:
“Hello,
I am a graduate student attending Georgetown University writing to express my opposition to the proposed commercial wind power leasing on the Central Atlantic Outer Continental Shelf. This proposal presents multiple serious concerns, including the environmental impact and the potential harm to local economies.
The Central Atlantic waters are home to numerous whale species whose habitats and migration patterns could be severely disrupted by the construction and operation of offshore wind turbines. The noise and pollution caused by these installations can lead to long-term displacement and accidental deaths, which will have a lasting impact on critical ecosystems. These disruptions could have lasting unintended consequences for the biodiversity and the overall health of the marine environment for decades to come.
This proposal also clearly poses a direct threat to the commercial fishing industry, which is a vital part of the economy in this region. Many important fishing grounds off the coast fall within the proposed lease area. Limiting access to these waters would directly harm the livelihoods of thousands of workers, and the financial fallout would cause significant economic damage to the communities that rely on these industries.
Given these significant risks, I strongly urge BOEM to reconsider moving forward with this proposal. It is crucial to explore alternative solutions that minimize potential economic and environmental harm, and ensure a thorough review of the potential consequences.
I respectfully request that BOEM consider extending the public comment period for this proposal to allow for more comprehensive input from all relevant stakeholders that would be impacted by a proposal of this scale. Careful consideration and more time for the public to engage in the decision-making process is crucial here. As a student worried about the economic landscape I will soon be stepping out into, it is my sincere hope that you will take my comments seriously.
Sincerely,
A.J. Conte”
“Dear Bureau of Ocean Energy Management,
My name is Austin Crockett. I run the George Mason University chapter of CFACT (Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow). I make this comment as a young American concerned with the direction of energy production in our country, and as a response to the proposed leasing of continental shelf off the coast of Virginia to construct wind turbines.
Though there may be minimal energy benefits for the communities local to the area, I believe the proposed wind power turbine development should not occur, as it creates a multitude of dangers for the critically endangered North American Right Whale population. It is well documented that marine-based wind farms create a “wall of noise” that severely disrupt whales’ echolocation, which can confuse the poor creatures and cause them to wander into boating lanes where they can be maimed or even killed. Additionally, the proposed location of the windfarm sits directly in the path of the North American Right Whale’s migratory and breeding grounds.
Wind turbines can be as dangerous to wildlife above the waves as they are below. With short lifespans of 20 years that require constant maintenance, oil, lubricants, and plastic pieces often come off the turbines and create pollution in waters below. This is obviously hazardous to ocean wildlife, as they may end up consuming small pieces of plastic or swim in the water tainted with harmful chemicals. Not to mention the hundreds of thousands of birds that wind turbines kill every single year. CFACT Collegians believe that the environment should always be taken into full consideration when dealing with issues such as energy generation. How are machines that pollute the environment and kill wildlife “green” or “clean?”
Along with environmental concerns, the wind farm will also be very costly to American citizens and inevitably overfunded by the federal government. Study after study shows that wind energy cannot compete with traditional energy sources. Why are we spending so much money on an energy project that won’t be able to compete with other energy production methods such as natural gas or nuclear? We should be pursuing energy production that doesn’t financially burden the American people and doesn’t pollute our waters or killing wildlife.
Taking these facts into consideration, it’s clear that these wind turbines are not a good idea for our environment or economy, and thusly there should be no leasing of continental shelf or offshore wind farm development of any kind in the proposed area. I hope BOEM takes my comment into consideration when making their decision. Thank you.
Austin Crockett
President Of CFACT at George Mason University”
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