TOMS RIVER, NJ – Experts and government scientists can’t explain why so many whales are dying at the Jersey Shore this winter. Now, Republicans are criticizing New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s refusal to investigate the whale die-off.
The Republicans are now the “Save the Whale” party in New Jersey and are calling for the governor to halt the construction of a wind turbine farm off the coast of Atlantic City.
On Wednesday, Murphy continued to belittle and mock the opposition to his wind energy project in an “Ask the Governor” segment with News12 New Jersey.
Once again, Murphy discounted concern for the endangered species as political banter and insincere political opposition to his wind project.
Reina Smrdelj, a legislative analyst at the Assembly Republican Office released a video today explaining that experts are baffled by the spate of marine mammal deaths. While the experts claim they don’t know why so many whales are washing ashore, self-appointed cetologist Gov. Phil Murphy insists his offshore wind projects are not causing the deaths. With his green energy goals on the line, the governor seems keen to save face, not the whales.
Murphy said on Wednesday that the deaths of whales is nothing to be concerned about and he will continue pushing forward with his green energy plan off the coast of the Jersey Shore until it can be scientifically proven that recent whale deaths can be linked to the project.
“It’s hard to know who to trust and what to believe,” Smrdelj said.
Insiders say Murphy’s reluctance to halt the project has more to do with his political ambitions and less to do with green energy or the environment.
The wind farm project is set to deliver $1.6 billion in union jobs to the Jersey Shore ahead of the 2025 Presidential election, where Murphy is expected to be a candidate in the event that President Joe Biden does not seek re-election.
Completing a wind farm would be a feather in the former Goldman Sachs executive’s political cap. A halt in production would not only harm union interests but could also impact his presidential campaign. With $1.6 billion in funding on the line, the plight of the endangered humpback whale will take a backseat to Murphy’s political aspirations and labor obligations.