Railroaded by Windmills
Ignorance, money, and a dogmatic belief system merged into a green machine. That can be the only explanation for why federal and state legislators are promulgating railroad emission regulations.
You looked so pretty when we met in Ocean City | Like someone oh so easy to adore | I sang this little ditty on our way through Ocean City | Heading south along the Jersey Shore
On the way to Cape May I fell in love with you | On the way to Cape May I saw my dreams come true | I was taken by your smile as we drifted by Sea Isle | My heart was done when we reached Avalon
On the way to Cape May Stone Harbor skies were blue | We were namin’ the day when Wildwood came in view | If you gonna be my spouse we better head to that Court House | On the way to Cape May, on the way to Cape May
On the Way To Cape May ~ Al Alberts
Foreword
Living in the greater Delaware Valley for most of my life, day trips to the Jersey Shore are a joy. It entails a drive through the pine barrens to destinations on the way to Cape May, such as Ocean City, Sea Isle, Stone Harbor, and Wildwood. Alternatively, a pleasant ride on a Pennsylvania Reading Seashore Lines (PRSL) passenger train made for a safe trip.1 As a teen, I enjoyed riding the PRSL in the early 1970s on Budd Rail Diesel Cars just for the thrills of being on a train.
Today, New Jersey Transit offers passenger rail access between Philadelphia and Atlantic City. The hustle and bustle of Atlantic City’s big casinos tower over the one-time star attraction: Steel Pier. The high dive horse show and diving bell ride were among the many venues at “The Pier.” To this day, vivid memories take me back to those days as a young boy enjoying those venues and more at that iconic Atlantic City attraction.
Like most large cities, Atlantic City harkens to become what it was. But in a joyous slice of nice, select towns along the Jersey Shore hold onto much of the past. My Favorite is Ocean City. It continues its tradition as a “dry community” and looks and feels much like it did as far back as I can remember. While the train to Ocean City ended in 1981, several vestigial remnants can be seen today. The memories of riding the train to Ocean City warm my heart.
Manco and Manco Pizza is an iconic eatery in Ocean City. Located on the beachside boardwalk, Manco and Manco got its start in 1956, the same year as my birth. With real-time confidence, and can say that a slice of Manco looks and tastes the same today as it did back in the 60s. It has a distinctive taste and texture with a skinny crust and large cheese bubbles. Like Ocean City, NJ, nothing else like it.
During a recent trip to “get a slice,” a big story that will impact my old favorite town, Ocean City, loomed in my mind. Looking out from Manco and Manco, the ongoing saga of building ugly offshore windmills forged a terrible image in my mind.
In an unbelievable coincidence, upon departing the restaurant, I saw a public awareness display on the boardwalk by the group Protect Our Coast NJ. One of the members of this group stood by to answer questions. It was a pleasure to hear about the many efforts by this group to expose the negative outcome of the windmill project. The information to compose the windmill story in this essay mainly came from Protect Our Coast, NJ. Kudos to Protect Our Coast NJ and the other organizations fighting the cause.
Before getting to the looming story, as a bonus, on this day to get a slice, the Joshep A. Ferko Philadelphia Mummer String Band played its signature music right by Manco and Manco.23
Introduction
The windmill farms off the New Jersey coast are a massive green energy project that has sparked enthusiasm and alarm. It ignited intense debate. It will stretch along the coastline and be as close as 8.7 miles offshore. It will have thousands of tall wind turbines, some over 1,000 feet tall. These turbines will be even taller than the ones in Atlantic City, which are 320 feet tall. You will see these turbines from the beaches. They will have flashing red lights that might change the beautiful coastal landscape.
The ambitious plan involves building many offshore substations. Each one is about 300 x 300 x 200 feet tall. People worry that power lines buried in the sand could create harmful electromagnetic fields. To complete the project, the builders must use sonar, drilling, explosives, and mechanical operations. These will help to drive steel pilings into the seabed. This undertaking will need thousands of boat trips and helicopter flights.
Yet, the plans have ignited political and economic concerns. Governor Murphy’s choice to eliminate towns’ decision-making rights has drawn criticism. There were few public hearings. Additionally, taxpayer subsidies given to developers and rising construction costs have raised concerns. These expenses and liabilities may be the responsibility of New Jersey taxpayers.
And to add insult to injury, there is an expectation that electricity rates will increase. Analysis indicates that the cost will be astronomical compared to similar projects in Virginia. Concerns about the impact on tourism, property values, and fishing industries still need to be addressed. Legal action has halted many comparable projects near affluent communities. The extent of the impact still needs to be quantified. There are indications that developers are trying to quiet concerns by giving hush money to coastal towns and anti-opposition groups.
Amidst the debate, the supposed “climate” benefits for New Jersey remain vague and undefined. Ten groups are working to protect Right Whales by opposing studies that could harm them. Windmills have a lot of oils and fuel, including transformer oil, lubrication oil, and diesel fuel. All sitting above ocean water is an omnipresent threat compared to land-based systems. The greenhouse gas SF6 is also present. People have concerns about how well windmills work in rough ocean conditions. Throughout history, hurricanes passed through this area. There is a worry about the effect of leaks and debris on beaches.
Foreign developers admit that building may harm whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and other marine life. Wind turbine installations also cause bird fatalities, such as the bald eagle. There is an ongoing debate about how much wind farms help the environment. Moreover, the effectiveness of wind power is in question. Absent traditional generation, “green” energy requires various systems, such as solar and wind, to work in concert. Thus, we need a massive build over the existing infrastructure to ensure constant and stable power.
The environmental footprint of the project looms large. Each turbine’s production requires thousands of pounds of metals, plastics, and non-recyclable fiberglass. The project will use a lot of fossil fuels for 20-30 years. This includes development, transportation, installation, repair, maintenance, and decommissioning. This raises concerns about responsibility and long-term sustainability.
The Leviathan Wind Farm
Ocean Wind
Ocean Wind, one element of a windmill farm, represents a significant offshore wind venture with an anticipated capacity of 2,248 megawatts (M.W.). The project situates on the Outer Continental Shelf, approximately “15 miles” (stay tuned) from Atlantic City in New Jersey. Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) work together to promote wind energy. Ørsted, a Danish company, owns Ørsted U.S. Offshore Wind, a group that focuses on developing wind energy in the Ocean. The company’s main offices are in Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island. By 2019, the organization had already worked on major offshore wind farm projects in the U.S.
Ocean Wind will unfold in two phases, generating 1,100 MW in the first stage and 1,148 MW in the next phase. Ørsted plans to begin construction and testing in the mid-2020s. The wind farm will use old nuclear and gas power plants to send energy from the turbines. This Leviathan is the biggest offshore wind farm in the entire United States. Ocean Wind received approval from the government on July 5, 2023, to start building and operating. This marks the third major project to obtain such authorization.
People are arguing about how a big project on the coast will affect the environment, economy, and politics. Meanwhile, Ørsted intends to “invest” an incredible 4 billion dollars. Additionally, New Jersey has shifted one billion dollars in tax credits from its ratepayers to Ørsted. For all the associated projects, the turbines last for 30 years, causing long-term problems. While Ocean Wind No. 1 is promoted as “15 miles out,” the media rarely acknowledges that Ocean Wind’s No. 2 phase will be as close as 10 miles from Ocean City. Authorities claim these turbines would be insignificant on the horizon and barely noticeable. Ocean City knows better.
The Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects violate the rights of Ocean City and Cape May County residents. This happens because they use an exception to New Jersey’s legal standards. Ørsted has a habit of dodging questions by relying on lawyers, sharing information, and seeking political support. Planning the events at bad times and places made it hard for working-class families to join. Meanwhile, Ørsted pauses Gigastack project at Hornsea 2 offshore wind farm in Britain.
Atlantic Offshore Wind
In addition to Ocean Wind, another significant offshore wind project is the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC endeavor located north of Ocean City. The inaugural initiative in this domain is set to commence construction in 2024. This project is a 50:50 joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF-RE Offshore Development, LLC, an EDF Renewables North America subsidiary.
This effort, upon completion of both phases, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind anticipates over anticipates more the 5,000 MW of power.
Analysis
Both New Jersey authorities and the wind turbine industry have not been forthcoming in providing accurate visual representations from crucial shoreline viewpoints. This lack of transparency was particularly evident during the debut of these projects. Similarly, various politicians on record asserted that the turbines would not affect property values along the shore. Traditional media outlets must still extract images from environmental impact reports and widely disseminate them for assessment by New Jersey residents. However, as shown above, Ocean City has taken a bold step by openly displaying these images on the boardwalk.
New Jersey lawmakers have seen it fit to virtually bypass Garden State citizens throughout the planning of this Leviathan. Meanwhile, the same legislature has worked to limit the future use of clean-burning natural and petroleum gas. Enjoy that gas-oven pizza while you can. Furthermore, by executive fiat, the governor has decreed severe restrictions on selling internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. Governor Murphy and his acolytes think these projects, coupled with solar, will be able to charge all those potentially toxic batteries and keep up with the peak demands of summer and winter. They are gravely mistaken as they have been sold a bill of goods rotten to the core.
Oh yes, as the Nude Jersey bureaucrat says in the above video, “Follow the science.” We know that “worked well” during and after the Covid pandemic.
The Atlantic continental shelf is becoming industrialized. This is disrupting the marine ecosystem in this critical area. Trying to solve climate change by harming the Ocean could increase CO2 levels. A Harvard study shows wind turbines could raise ocean temperatures and cancel their benefits.
The response to the recent surge in whale and dolphin fatalities has been disheartening. Over four months, sixteen whales were found dead on the shores of NJ/NY. This happened simultaneously with a significant increase in offshore wind vessel activities. For more about the plight of wildlife from Ocean Wind and other offshore projects in the Mid-Atlantic, please see the essay Whales Die, While Officials, Media, and Environmentalists Lie. Nevertheless, numerous federal and state agencies and environmental organizations assert that the fatalities are unrelated to wind turbines. These very individuals held sonar tests responsible for whale strandings two decades ago, attributing the incidents to the exploration efforts of petroleum companies in their search for suitable offshore oil rig sites.
Despite being a Leviathan, opposition to corporate influence has quieted down. The clean energy worldview appears sadly to ignore the adverse effects of such projects on the environment. The large amount of money has helped with ongoing public relations. That’s like propaganda, making it easier to spend money.
Railroaded by Windmills
When Scotland Admits Chopping Down 16 Million Trees to Make Way for ‘Green’ Wind Energy Farms, will the environmentalists step up? Likewise, potentially turning the Eastern Seaboard into an energy-inefficient animal killing field would get Greenpeace all juiced up in the past—no more.
Who would have ever thought that Frederick R. Smith would become a champion of the environment and a skeptic of big business? That metamorphic event occurred when big companies adopted collectivist ideologies in fusion with the government. Furthermore, when my workplace for 45 years (railroads) gets attacked for pollution, my hackles go through the roof. There are a few key reasons why trains are generally more efficient than trucks for transporting freight:
Trains are much more efficient in fuel consumption than trucks. A typical train can move a ton of freight around 470 miles per gallon of fuel, while a truck moves that same ton only around 150 miles per gallon. This is due to the low rolling resistance of steel wheels on rails vs. rubber tires on pavement.
Trains can transport much larger volumes and heavier loads in a single trip. Freight trains can carry thousands of tons, while big trucks can only carry 20-30 tons. This allows trains to take advantage of economies of scale.
Trains have dedicated tracks, so they are not affected by highway congestion and traffic delays like trucks are. This increases reliability and efficiency.
Trains cost around 3-4 times less than trucks to transport freight. This makes railroads about four times more fuel efficient than trucks, on average.
So, in summary, the main advantages of train freight transport are better fuel efficiency, higher capacity, lower labor needs, and reduced costs compared to trucking. These advantages are magnified when transporting bulk commodities or containers over long distances. Yet we see federal and state legislatures introducing regulations for railroads to reduce their “carbon footprint.” In California, railroads are to become emission-free by 2035. That will result in the shuttering of smaller rail companies there. Therefore, shut down already efficient and low-emission transportation operations. Let that sink in. Will wood-fired grills be next?
Do these demigods believe their windmills and solar panels will be able to supply the needed energy to move freight by rail? Ignorance, money, and a dogmatic belief system merged into a nasty green machine that is red on the inside. That can be the only explanation for why federal and state legislators are promulgating railroad emission regulations. Also, government money thrown at railroads is a very inefficient operation. California is the prīmā faciē example with its highly-funded yet non-existent high-speed train that goes nowhere. Welcome to the New World Order of Odor and Disorder.
Conclusion
The Ocean Wind and Atlantic Shores projects complicate and divide efforts. It involves “clean energy” and valid worries. The big wind project off the mid-Atlantic coast has caused a lot of arguments. People are talking about the good and bad things it could bring.
Thousands of tall wind turbines along the coast change how the beach looks. The turbines with flashing red lights will make the area look less beautiful and cause concerns. The technical parts of the project worry people about the environment and cause disruptions. Installing the project is complex and needs lots of boat trips and helicopter flights. They use sonar, drilling, explosives, and machines.
The debate is about how it affects tourism, property values, fishing industries, and marine life. This includes endangered species like Right Whales and bald eagles. It shows the importance of assessing and reducing these impacts.
Proponents say wind energy helps the environment, but we must consider its impact. The project’s use of plastics and non-recyclable materials concerns people. It also relies on fossil fuels, which contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.
Its inherent inefficiencies undermine the cost-effectiveness of wind-based “free” energy. Sometimes, wind energy production creates more power than we need, which can overwhelm the power grid. When there is no viable market for surplus electricity, they discard or “dump” this “excess energy.”
Sometimes wind energy is not enough because there isn’t enough airflow. In those cases, we need other power sources like natural gas or oil to keep the power supply steady. And to mention the efficiency of coal-burning plants that capture carbon to make gypsum brings on the “climate denial” mantra. When the wind slows down or stops, it’s imperative to use backup generators or other energy sources to keep the electricity flowing.
This issue highlights the tangible risk of electricity shortages. Governmental bodies and environmental organizations are making it harder for traditional power plants. They oppose projects like the B.L. England gas pipeline. At the same time, they are pushing for more electric vehicles. This makes the risk of not having enough electricity more serious. We could waste electricity without an effective battery system for storing energy from offshore wind turbines. Creating batteries on a large scale is difficult because of limited technology and rare minerals.
As these projects advance, we must address these worries and uncertainties. We must safeguard the environment and society while reaping the rewards of alternate energy sources. The excellent news: lawsuits are “in the queue” to stop the Ocen Wind 1 project.
Maybe it is time to think about safer and truly clean alternatives to traditional batteries. Introducing: Gravity Energy Storage: A very uplifting technology! Or, how about A New Kind of Renewable Energy Storage (railway)?
Appendix
Additional Related News
A nod of gratitude goes to Arza Dale at Tango with Renewables for mining these links:
Data insight: the cost of a wind turbine has increased by 38% in two years
As predicted, wind industry blackmails the U.K. – demands yet more subsidies
Wind Farms In All The Wrong Places - The Desecration of Nature in Pursuit of ‘Green’ Energy
Wind turbine fires’ ten times more common than thought,’ experts warn
Action Plan
Protect Our Coast NJ assembled a comprehensive list for New Jersey residents to assist in contacting legislators to voice your concerns: click here. In addition, there is a New Jersey Legislature directory: click here. Lastly, please share this essay. 📕
I refrain from using Wikipedia because of its often questionable content. However, in this case, the entry for PRSL passes my sniff test.
This video is from 8/3/23 at the exact location and the same band on 8/11/23.
Philadelphia Mummers String Bands are a unique and vibrant tradition deeply rooted in Philadelphia’s cultural heritage. The Mummers Parade, held annually on New Year’s Day, is the main event where these string bands showcase their elaborate costumes, choreographed performances, and intricate musical arrangements.
The Mummers Parade dates back to the mid-19th century and is one of the oldest folk festivals in the United States. The event is a fusion of various European traditions, including English, Irish, and Swedish, brought to Philadelphia by early immigrants. The parade features multiple divisions, including Comics, Fancy Brigades, Fancies, and String Bands.
String Bands are a significant part of the Mummers Parade. They are musical ensembles composed of musicians who play instruments such as banjos, saxophones, accordions, drums, and other traditional band instruments. What sets these bands apart is their focus on playing stringed instruments like banjos, with the genre’s distinctive banjo and saxophone sound.
String Bands also heavily emphasize their elaborate costumes and finely crafted props. Each year, the bands choose a theme for their performance, which dictates the design of their costumes, props, and overall presentation. The bands often spend months preparing for the parade, creating intricate and visually impressive themes that tell a story or convey a message.
The performances involve carefully choreographed routines that blend music, dance, and visual storytelling. String Bands incorporate complex formations and movements while playing their instruments, adding excitement to their performance. The bands compete against each other for various awards and recognition, including prizes for best music, costume, and overall performance.
Manco and Manco Pizza forever!
How the Earth was Made show on Ice Ages. We are between ice ages now. relevant to climate change. Since we can't do anything to stop it it's great for leveraging power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyZNYdZynb0