Supporters, critics to talk New Jersey’s offshore wind plan at separate events on same day
New Jersey’s controversial commitment to increased reliance on offshore clusters of wind-powered turbines to provide electricity is the topic of a pair of competing public events on Wednesday, one by proponents and one by critics.
Rowan University is hosting one event on May 3 at its Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy on its Glassboro campus from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The theme is “Offshore Wind Technology in New Jersey: Sustainability, Emerging Markets and Policy.”
Participants include Sweeney, a former Democratic state Senate president, and U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-1. Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy is sending Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn LaTourette and Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo to join panel discussions.
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The Rowan event also has high-ranking representatives from companies with interests in offshore wind farms: JCP&L, PSE&G, Orsted, Atlantic Shores, and Invenergy.
Rowan President Ali Houshmand and Rowan College of South Jersey President Frederick Keating also will make comments.
Senate Republicans are holding their online hearing starting at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday. The Facebook Live event, announced on Friday, will discuss the potential connection between wind farm development and a “surge of whale and dolphin deaths.”
Brad Schnure, communications director for Senate Republicans, said the online event was planned without knowledge that Rowan was hosting an in-person conference. "After we sent our advisory this morning, I heard from another reporter that that was at the same time," he said.
“We think that there should be bi-partisan concern in Trenton,” Schnure said. “Unfortunately, the Democratic majority hasn’t shown any interest in looking into this. So, we’re holding an independent hearing.”
State senators expected for the online hearing are Anthony M. Bucco, Vince Polistina, Michael Testa, and Declan O’Scanlon. Scientists, advocacy groups, local officials, and business owners also will speak.
The Rowan event requires registration at https://chss.rowan.edu/centers/sweeney_center/offshore-wind-technology.html.
The streaming link to the Senate Republican event does not require a Facebook account to watch. Go to https://www.facebook.com/senatenj/live_videos/. The hearing also will be archived.
Joe Smith is a N.E. Philly native transplanted to South Jersey more than 30 years ago, keeping an eye now on government in South Jersey. He is a former editor and current senior staff writer for The Daily Journal in Vineland, Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, and the Burlington County Times.
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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: Rowan hosts wind energy meeting, no-invite Republicans go on Facebook
