Will This Investigation Finally Answer What's Causing Spate of Whale, Dolphin Deaths Along East Coast?

Leah Barkoukis | June 16, 2023 6:30 PM

Something fishy is going on along the Atlantic coast.

Since December, at least 32 dead whales have washed ashore, with large numbers turning up in New Jersey and New York; places like Sea Isle City beach in The Garden State have dealt with mass deaths of dolphins, and seals are being stranded by the dozens.

What’s causing the uptick in deaths and strandings? While the NJ Department of Environmental Protection has pointed to climate change, many others are placing the blame on offshore wind projects, calling for an immediate pause on the projects to determine the cause of deaths.

While that hasn’t happened yet, NJ Republican Rep. Chris Smith was pleased to report this week that the Government Accountability Office, an independent congressional watchdog, agreed to open an investigation into the effects of offshore wind development projects on the environment, fishing industry, navigational safety, military operations, and more.

The GAO’s decision follows a May 15 request from Smith and other GOP lawmakers to study the impacts of the wind development projects.

“This aggressive, independent investigation into the ocean-altering impacts of the 3,400 offshore wind turbines slated for the Jersey Shore will help address the wide-ranging questions and concerns that the Biden Administration and Governor Murphy continue to dismiss as they plow full steam ahead with this unprecedented offshore wind industrialization of our shore,” Smith said in a statement responding to the GAO announcement.

“It is absolutely critical that New Jersey residents understand all the impacts of these offshore wind projects—which will permanently transform our marine environment and seascape and could put our tourism-drive economy at grave risk—before it’s too late,” the Republican added.

Smith went the GAO route after hopes of a similar investigation being required through legislation were dashed when Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declared HR 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, dead on arrival in the upper chamber. The bill, and an amendment offered by Smith that would have required an investigation, passed the House in March.

“With so much at stake and out of an abundance of caution and concern, these offshore wind projects must be at a minimum paused until the Government Accountability Office concludes its study,” Smith added.