City of Margate NJ resolution opposing offshore wind

CITY OF MARGATE CITY

RESOLUTION #135-2024

RESOLUTION UNEQUIVOCALLY OPPOSING OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS, ENCOURAGING ALL MUNICIPALITIES TO JOIN THE OPPOSITION AND SUPPORTING THE ATLANTIC COUNTY EXECUTIVE AND BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS TO UTILIZE ITS VARIOUS POWERS, INCLUDING LEGAL ACTION TO PROTECT THE FUTURE OF ATLANTIC COUNTY

WHEREAS, the future of Atlantic County's economy faces significant risk from the negative impacts of proposed offshore wind projects and the industrialization of our ocean; and

WHEREAS, developers continue to pursue federal and state approvals to construct more than 550 giant wind turbines off New Jersey's coastline and such construction will detrimentally affect the Atlantic Ocean and Atlantic County's shore communities and economy; and

WHEREAS, the Ocean Wind One/Two and Atlantic Shores offshore wind projects seek to place several hundred thousand-foot tall towers and turbines off the beaches of Atlantic and Cape May and Ocean Counties; and

WHEREAS, specifically, Atlantic Shores, and Ocean Wind developers (which still holds an active permit) will build 566 highly visible giant wind turbines starting only nine (9) miles off our beaches; and

WHEREAS, 357 of these massive structures will be 1040 feet high and 209 will be 906 feet high; and

WHEREAS, in addition to the projects adjacent to Atlantic County's coast, another group of six (6) offshore wind development projects are planned directly east of the ones next to our coastline in an area known as the New York Bight. These developers are planning to build 549 more turbines starting 27 miles off the coast at an even greater height of 1312 feet; and

WHEREAS, that is a total of 1,115 massive industrial wind turbines off of our South Jersey coast in our pristine ocean; and

WHEREAS, New Jersey's breathtaking scenic ocean views will be forever lost; and

WHEREAS, Tourism remains one of New Jersey's largest economic drivers; and

WHEREAS, Atlantic County generates over $7.7 billion in Tourism-related revenue annually with the state realizing over $800 million in tax revenue; Cape May County generates over $7.4 billion in Tourism-related revenue annually with the state realizing over $600 million in tax revenue. 29.9% of all State Tourism-related tax revenue comes out of Atlantic and Cape May counties alone $4.7 billion in tourism related revenues are over $400 million in tax receipts; and

WHEREAS, assessors estimate that based upon the impact of an industrial ocean view from beach homes in Atlantic City Brigantine Longport, Margate and Ventnor total property values could be reduced by $2.2 billion and the county municipalities and school districts could lose over $36 million in annual tax revenues; and

WHEREAS, surveys conducted show that fifty percent (50%) of prior renters would not return to Atlantic County communities with visible turbines regardless of rent discount; and

WHEREAS, including Atlantic City, Atlantic County annual rental income loss could be $17.4 million (10%) two $68.9 million (30%) and excluding Atlantic City, Atlantic County’s annual revenue loss could be $4.5 million (10%) to $17.9 million (40%) and lost total rental income over 20 years could be $65 million to $250 million; and

WHEREAS, the rental income loss alone is enough to destroy Atlantic County's economy but the impacts are felt throughout every industry; and

WHEREAS, wind turbines will not be a significant tourist attraction but will in fact deter tourism and based on survey results participants are not willing to pay more for rental property with a view of wind turbines off the coast; and

WHEREAS, it is estimated that between 16.5% to 24% of tourists would not visit Atlantic County beach towns and choose other places to vacation, resulting in a loss of 8,700 to 12,700 jobs or 175,000 to 225,000 job years over the project life; and

WHEREAS, massive turbines will result in $1.3 to $1.9 billion in annual revenue losses or net present value of $17.4 billion to $25.5 billion over the project life; and

WHEREAS, industrialized ocean views will create a $142 to $206 million government tax loss revenue over the project life; and

WHEREAS, offshore wind turbines do not create lower cost energy for local residents and business especially fragile seasonal tourism businesses; and

WHEREAS, based upon the most recent analysis for 11 GW of offshore wind energy in New Jersey, electricity rates are expected to increase by over 55% for residents, 70% for commercial and over 80% for industrial users by 2047 and based upon the most recent solicitation for 3742 MW of power over 20 years, rates are projected to increase by 20 to 30%; and

<Whereas provisions continue followed by the final resolution which is provided below. The complete document is available at the links on this page>

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Margate City County of Atlantic State of New Jersey that:

1. The preamble to this resolution is incorporated here by reference and made part hereof as the findings of the city Commission.
2. The City of Margate City opposes the Atlantic shore and ocean wind turbine projects; and
3. The City determines that the installation of offshore wind projects; and other such projects as currently designed and intended will cause great harm to our marine environment and great harm to the tourism and fisheries sector of our local economy and may cause to other sectors such as real estate.
4. The City of Margate City further opposes any wind turbine projects along New Jersey coast regardless of height of the structures and distance from New Jersey’s pristine shorelines until proper studies are performed; and
5. Studies must include full evaluation of the impact of such construction on the tourism industry, the economy in general, the Atlantic County labor market; and
6. Studies must better understand the environmental impact of ocean habitats, the migration of ocean mammals and organisms that create a healthy biosphere to ensure continued protection of the Atlantic Ocean, waterways and back bays and ocean life in general; and
7. The City resolves that until such time that the wind developers present a project design that, to the greatest extent possible, mitigates the negative environmental and economic harms of its project, the City objects to and opposes the construction of the projects.
8. The City of Margate City calls on the municipalities in Atlantic, Cape May, and Ocean Counties to join in Brigantine’s opposition to these wind turbine projects because of the significant negative impacts to the New Jersey coastline and coastline communities; and
9. The City of Margate encourages and urges the Atlantic County Executive and Board of County Commissioners to pursue all appropriate action, including but not limited to legal action to prevent the approval and construction of wind turbine projects because of the detrimental impact they would have on the Atlantic County municipalities; and
10. The City of Margate City recognizes and appreciates the efforts already initiated by Congressman Jeff Van Drew and Senator Vince Polistano and Assembly Members Don Guardian and Claire Swift; and
11. The City of Margate City shall provide copy of this resolution to each elected official at the County, State and Federal level as well as serve a copy upon Governor Phil Murphy, Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. Latourette, Members of the Board of Public Utilities, the Senate President Nicolas Scutari, and the Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin.