How Can You Save Long Beach Island?

By Sofia LaPointe

The Save LBI project is a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the natural environment of the seashore and the economic lifeline that comes with living on/by such a lovely beautiful coast. The purpose is to relocate or remove the proposed wind turbines just 9-10 miles from the seashore. These turbines would not be some little white speck. They are larger than the Eiffel tower and will be seen from the beach or rooftops of beachfront properties. There will be several hundred of these turbines for all 18 miles of LBI roughly , seven miles apart from one another.

Doing this will drain the local economy, which values tourism. Local Fishermen spoke out against the wind turbines on a segment of FOX NEWS. They said they would not be able to fish like they are now. These fishermen do this for a living and supply local restaurants that depend on these men to keep a successful business. Several surveys were done of public reaction to visible turbines, including NCSU, a federally sponsored one by UDEL, and a recent one of 10,000 prior LBI renters by us.

• Forty-six to fifty percent of those who previously rented said they would rent again at that beach town.

• Nineteen percent said they would not visit that beach town again.

• Nine percent would take a different vacation altogether rather than go to any beach town, a Statewide loss in coastal tourism and rental revenue.

• Seventy-one percent said they favored the turbines sited farther out where they cannot be seen. Only 3 percent said that the turbines could be placed closer to shore.

• Applying the 19 and 9 percent, respectively, to shore tourism job numbers in the wind project’s Construction and Operations Plan results in 1100 job losses at LBI and 500 Statewide.

• Property value loss of $200k-$1million for oceanfront and ocean view properties.

• Results are consistent and do not bode well for shore economies.

In recent weeks, there has been an "unusual" spike in stranded and dead whales washing ashore. Whale strandings occur all over the world throughout the year. But recently, there has been an increased number of strandings, particularly on the eastern coast of the U.S. Since December 1, 2022; there have been nine whale strandings

• New York: a sperm whale and a humpback.

• New Jersey: a sperm whale and four humpback whales, including one preliminarily blamed on a vessel strike.

• North Carolina: three humpbacks and a critically endangered North Atlantic right whale calf.

• Additionally, an orca washed up in Florida.

There is no cause of death for these whales at the moment, but Save LBI is demanding an autopsy to see what could have caused this spike in beachings. Save LBI has also said that these whales migrate just under two miles away from where these turbines are located.

These turbines are controversial and potentially harmful to the local economy and marine life. The best thing someone can do is spread the word. When asking teachers and students, many didn’t know about the Save LBI project and what its purpose is, and what they are trying to accomplish. We all want to see LBI flourish since many of us have grown up with sand in our toes and sunburns from staying at the beach too long. We all have a common goal, and the best thing we can do is come together to help save Long Beach Island.

For more information, go to https://www.savelbi.org