2023-04-04 16:34:32 ET
New Jersey's first offshore wind farm may "adversely affect" whales and other marine mammals, but its construction and operation will not seriously harm or kill them, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said in a new report Tuesday.
NOAA said the Ocean Wind I project by Danish wind power company Ørsted ( OTCPK:DNNGY ) is "likely to adversely affect but not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any species" of endangered whales, sea turtles and other animals, and likely will not "destroy or adversely modify any designated critical habitat."
The agency has said there is no evidence linking offshore wind production and whale deaths, but opposition to offshore wind projects has been growing since 30 whales have washed ashore on the East Coast since December 1.
In January, Public Service Enterprise Group sold its 25% equity stake in Ocean Wind I to Ørsted for an undisclosed sum .
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Ocean Wind I project may 'adversely affect' but not kill whales, NOAA says