Brigantine Mayor Vince Sera honored members of the Defend Our Beaches NJ committee and community volunteers who spent much of their time over the last two years advocating against establishing wind farms along the New Jersey coast.
The organization started out as Defend Brigantine Beach, but through their outreach efforts enlisted support from other municipalities, including Ventnor, Margate and Longport in Atlantic County.
Sera also recognized volunteers from other coastal communities in Cape May, Ocean and Monmouth counties who collaborated on an educational and advocacy campaign to stop the planned offshore wind projects known as Ocean Wind 1 and 2 and Atlantic Shores 1 and 2 they say would have a devastating effect on the environment, fishing industry and tourism.Advocates said the projects would have a deleterious effect on the tourism and beach experience, ruin seashore views and significantly increase utility rates and local taxes.
Defend Our Beaches NJ accomplished their goals by creating marketing materials such as T-shirts, banners and yard signs, billboards and banner planes, conducted community events in several municipalities, canvassed door-to-door in community neighborhoods, and held fundraisers to support their cause.
Sera presented the proclamation in their honor during the Brigantine City Council meeting.
“Defend Brigantine Beach acknowledged the need to take stronger actions to prevent the industrialization of our ocean,” Sera said. “Their contributions have made an invaluable impact on our community extending far beyond Brigantine. We are forever grateful for all you have done to protect our community and our ocean.”
