In the absence of a state energy master plan defining how much real energy Corzine believes will come from offshore wind, a hard look at it in relation to overall energy demand and the ability to replace fossil fuel sources or address global climate change is needed. Offshore wind farms are not the answer to our energy problems. Industrial wind farms are expensive and inefficient: They cost hundreds of millions of dollars (much of it public money) and need thousands of turbines to produce relatively small amounts of electricity in relation to New Jersey's overall demand. Even then, they will have only a minimal impact on emissions that contribute to global cli mate change, and won't affect sea level rise at the Jersey Shore. A realistic look at the environmental benefits of expensive offshore wind facilities leads one to conclude that we should invest scarce public resources in more effective means of reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions -- which is absolutely necessary in the face of global warming and its effects on New Jersey.

With its editorial "Tilting toward windmills" (Aug. 31), The Times has highlighted an important issue. The editorial's arguments and conclusion were good, except that it doesn't recognize that the Corzine administration is already moving forward on the "test" project of 80 windmills prior to the completion of the environmental and economic im pact studies the editorial suggests are the appropriate course of action. They have already dismissed any "cautious approach and mak[ing] sure that the environmental and economic questions are answered before we allow the giant windmills to sprout along our coast." Additionally, plans are to line up a project... [continue via Web link]

Web link: http://www.nj.com/opinion/times/editorials/index.s...