In a Letter to the Editor on March 31, 2023, Cindy Branga of Grace Court East Falmouth discussed âWhales Need Protectionâ. Here is an excerpt:
“There have been reports in the national news media about larger than normal numbers of dead whales and dolphins on the shores of New York and New Jersey. Several environmental groups have pointed the cause of these deaths to the work related to exploring and installing ocean windmills. They suggest exploration and installation produce low electrical magnetic frequencies which negatively affect these animalsâ ears/sonar and brains causing the animals to become disoriented, which causes them to collide into ships or breach themselves.
East Coast environmental groups, including commercial fishing groups are asking the federal government to halt any future development on ocean windmills until these issues are thoroughly researched to ensure there are no negative affects to our environment and especially to the significant animal life in our waters.”
Many people and organizations across the globe agree and there is a specific website dedicated to wind development which lists not only articles about windmill development, but also its negative effect on the whale population.
On its home page, National Wind WatchÂŽ (NWW) states that it âsupports groups and individuals working to save rural and wild places from heedless industrial wind energy development. Through its web site, NWW promotes awareness of and documents the negative impacts of industrial-scale wind turbines on the environment, economy, and quality of life. National Wind Watch is a U.S. 501(c)(3) charitable corporation.â
On the right side of their home page is a column listing various news stories from around the world, including a recent article, âRep. Harris demands halt to windmill construction after whale washes up at Assateagueâ in Maryland. The article begins: âMaryland Congressman Andy Harris is calling for an immediate halt to offshore windmill construction and underwater geotechnical testing. Harris who represents most of Marylandâs Eastern Shore region made the demand after a dead whale washed ashore at Assateague Island Monday. Now in his seventh term in Congress, Harris argues there is no evidence suggesting that windmill construction did not cause the whaleâs death. The lawmaker says he wants full transparent necropsy results.â
To read the full article, filed on 1/22/23, click here.
On their NEWS page in the top right corner, one can search by location (anywhere in the world) and type of article (blogs, press releases, etc.). NWW covers all of the US and indeed the world. Windmills and their installation on shore and off shore obviously have a wide following.
Here is a list on their MA page of articles since November 2022, some of which (marked by a @) we have emailed to you as FHMNA members:
Four Lawsuits Threaten vineyard Wind
SouthCoast wind Needs town Permission, Officials Say
@Falmouth Select Board Doubles Down on Denying Wind Developer Access
âStrategyâ to protect right whales from offshore wind development is recipe for extinction
Cannot be financed and built: company behind big offshore wind energy appeals DPU approval
US ignored own scientistsâ warning in backing Atlantic wind farm
@Falmouth Select Board denies Mayflower Wind access
Wind Energy Developer Files to Scrap Power Agreements
Future of Aroostook Wind Energy Project May Hinge on Massachusetts
Hull considers fate of nonfunctioning wind turbine
Endangered whales at risk from offshore wind, NOAA scientist warns
DPU rejects wind developerâs bid for contract relief
Major Massachusetts offshore wind project no longer viable