The Destruction of the Island

Post date: May 9, 2025

By Grace Jelley

Small coastal towns are a staple for many on the East Coast and are very beloved. These towns are cherished by many and create a living for the locals. In recent years the New Jersey government has funded wind turbines off the shores of Long Beach Island. If developed, 22 percent of New Jersey residents will have to contribute more economically because this project will increase the cost of electricity across New Jersey according to the organization Save LBI.

  With only living a few miles off this island, it has become my home. These turbines will harm both the marine life and the economy deeply. With an increase of decibels caused by the development of the turbines in a small range, it will result in negative impacts to marine life. If the mammals attempt to avoid the noise, migration patterns will be disturbed sending them closer to the shore. With the animals moving closer and closer to the shore lines, our vessels are in danger of running into marine life and striking them. The whales are mainly at risk due to their use of sound to navigate their surroundings in nature. In a month-long period, five dead whales washed up on the shores of New Jersey. 

Next, the pile driving needed to construct the wind turbines will create noise that can be heard by the local community. The noise level increase can make the island unappealing, which will lead to a loss of business that the island relies on. If these stressors are not reduced the whale population will continue to diminish and so will the popularity of the island. As someone who works on the island this deeply resonates with me because the appeal will soon be diminished with everything going on. In response to this issue an organization named Save LBI was created in efforts to stop this movement. As a way to raise awareness on the platform, I have donated to this organization and attended events to get the word out in hopes to stop the destruction.

On the contrary, there are many benefits to wind turbines. Some of these benefits include economic growth, cost effectiveness, and a renewable source of energy. In 2022 the wind energy contributed more than 10% of the net total of the country’s energy. That same year, funding in new wind projects added $20 billion to the U.S. economy. With this, the wind turbines can help the country greatly, but will also ruin our islands and oceans. Therefore, the turbines are more of a destruction than an advantage due to the harm on marine life and the island locals.