An organization made up of current and former elected officials dedicated to solving the climate crisis is speaking out in favor of the giant New Jersey wind farm project 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. The groups urge all Garden State residents to support the project.

The New Jersey Chapter of Elected to Protect America, which announced that 110 elected officials from across New Jersey have signed a letter of support for responsible offshore wind development, held a virtual press conference on Tuesday to highlight the benefits of developing this clean energy source. .

Atlantic County Commissioner Caren Fitzpatrick, who is a member of the group, said anyone living along the coast knows climate change is real and must be tackled.

“Nineteen of the 23 municipalities in Atlantic County are affected by the tides. Coastal erosion is a constant threat and hurricanes devastate the region.

She noted that last week a tornado hit three homes from her address.

She noted that tornadoes have never been a problem where she lives in Linwood until now, and that many other parts of Garden State are affected as well.

“Routine flooding near Atlantic City went from less than once a year between 1950 and 1960 to about eight times a year between 2007 and 2019,†she said.

Another member, Assembly Member Herb Conaway D-Burlington, who is also a medical doctor, said wind power will help the Garden State alleviate its global dependence on fossil fuels and that we can expect to see d ‘huge health benefits.

“Improved air quality will come when tons of greenhouse gas emissions are removed from our environment,†he said. “It will be less asthma, less lung disease, less heart disease, a better quality of life for all who live in our wonderful state.”

Fitzpatrick said New Jersey’s plan to build a massive wind farm will allow the state to help prevent climate change while adding thousands of green jobs to the state’s economy.

She also said that wind power, at sea and on land, coupled with solar will be able to eliminate New Jersey’s dependence on fossil fuels for electricity and meet the state’s goal of 100 % clean energy by 2050.

Other members of the organization who attended the press conference included MP Tom Giblin, D-Passaic, Atlantic City Councilor Kaleem Shabazz and Jersey City Councilor Mira Prinz-Arey.

The Save Our Shoreline group recently raised concerns about the impact of the planned wind farm on electricity prices, marine life and tourism.

You can contact reporter David Matthau at David.Matthau@townsquaremedia.com