The Sierra Club has released a new poll conducted by Monmouth University showing strong public support for developing more renewable energy, including offshore wind power, in New Jersey.
According to the poll, 75% of New Jerseyans favor building offshore wind in the state, and about two-thirds favor Gov. Chris Christie making offshore wind a priority for his administration. The poll also found that two-in-three New Jerseyans believe building offshore wind would strengthen New Jersey's economy.
‘New Jerseyans, like most Americans, understand that investing in offshore wind will grow our economy and create good local jobs at a time when we need them the most," says Michael Brune, executive director of the Sierra Club.
In response, the Sierra Club says it has launched a new advertising campaign that includes billboards, online and newspaper advertisements with images of Jersey beaches using the tagline: "The Jersey Shore is known for a lot of things. Let's make wind power one of them."
The Sierra Club notes that Christie signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act into law in August 2010, but the group charges that progress has stalled. The Sierra Club claims the state's Board of Public Utilities has failed to implement the governor's initiative and set the required financing rules that would attract offshore wind businesses and builders to the state.
