SEA GIRT, N.J. — Hundreds of residents from communities along the Jersey Shore are expected to gather Sunday morning to protest the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project, which includes plans to install high-capacity power cables through residential areas in Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall, and Howell.
The rally, organized by the grassroots group Stop the High-Risk Power Cables.org, will coincide with Governor Phil Murphy’s annual National Guard Review, scheduled to take place at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt. The group hopes to use the governor’s presence to draw attention to their concerns about the potential health, safety, and environmental risks associated with the project.
The Atlantic Shores project, recently approved by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, aims to generate up to 6,400 megawatts of offshore wind power. The power generated will be transmitted via underground cables that would be buried 3.5 to 8 feet underground, passing within 35 feet of homes, schools, and recreation areas. Critics say the project presents unknown risks, pointing out that no similar project of this scale has been tested anywhere in the world.
“We support safe, smart alternative energy, but oppose plans that make us human guinea pigs in a high-risk experiment,” the group said in a statement. The rally follows growing opposition to the project, which many residents claim they were not properly informed about. A recent virtual community meeting drew over 1,000 attendees, including state and local officials.
The rally is scheduled for Sunday, October 6, from 9 to 11 a.m. at the corner of Washington and Sea Girt Avenues, near the entrance to the National Guard Training Center. Over 500 residents are expected to attend, with participation from other grassroots organizations like Save the East Coast and Defend Our Beaches.
The Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project is part of New Jersey’s broader efforts to transition to renewable energy, but the strong opposition highlights concerns over the potential impact on local communities and ecosystems.
