Who We Are

Jeffrey is a recreational fisherman and outdoorsman who has a strong interest in the environment. He has witnessed firsthand the degrading of the environment by special interests in his home waters of Long Island Sound. Here the lobster population was decimated by public health officials dumping larvicide into the watershed. Jeffrey realized that all sea life was precious to its own ecosystem and the connecting ones. He has spent most of his life on the water and studied Environmental Science in college. All his studies and experiences built a strong belief that all wildlife and the oceans themselves are integral parts of that ecosystem, the world itself, and worth protecting.

The exploitation and killing of the right whales for corporate greed and governmental overreach has led Jeffrey to get involved in saving the North Atlantic Right Whale. He is proud to play a part in saving this species from extinction.

I’ve always been a nature lover. Living on Nantucket , the beloved critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales have been part of my life, as it is for all those who live on the island. So when I attended a public hearing in February 2019 for a proposed industrial offshore wind energy project, slated for the waters off our south shore, I became alarmed. It would be the first in the nation, largest in the world, offshore wind array, and would be joined by seven more, for a total of 1,400 turbines. 

The spokesman from the federal permitting agency assured us the construction and operation of the turbines would not jeopardize the species, despite industrializing one of the whales’ last refuges. The enthusiasm and energy from the attending conservation groups in the room was impressive, but there was little to no real time scientific data or studies.  As if that weren’t bad enough, the feds planned on granting permission for the developers to injure the whales during construction without penalty.

I formed Cape and Islands Wildlife Conservation Alliance, to engage our region’s residents, property owners, business owners and visitors. I am committed to protecting Nantucket’s fragile ecosystem, and the critically endangered North Atlantic Right Whales, so they will be part of my grandchildrens’ lives too.

Paul graduated from Gordon College and is a first-generation American, his mother immigrated to the United States from Mexico City. Paul is the spokesperson and serves on the board of Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance. Prior to his role at Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance, he worked in politics in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. He is an avid surfcaster fisherman and currently lives in North Andover, Massachusetts.

Mike is an ocean advocate and independent researcher, focusing on raising awareness and educating the public on political, legal and media fronts. Concerns over threats to marine life and our coastal ecosystems align him with the Save Right Whales Coalition. His research background and experience in asset-backed and project finance lends perspective to offshore wind industry developments and related impacts.

Mike views the environmental harms and economic costs of offshore wind industrialization as limitless, and the benefits impossible to justify or quantify.

A Jersey Shore lifer, Mike was born and raised in South Jersey, and spent annual family vacations on Cape May County beaches before lifeguarding as a young man in North Wildwood. Mike has since spent many summers in Ocean County beach towns – Point Pleasant, Bay Head, Mantoloking, Lavallette. He now calls coastal Monmouth County home, where he lives with his kids.

In summertime, Mike can be found off Long Branch participating in early morning open ocean swims among the dolphins and whales, body surfing, or playing beach volleyball.

Katie has spent much of her life immersed in community service and she believes strongly in giving back to her community. She spent most of her career as a medical social worker after receiving her MSW from the University of Pennsylvania and holds a LCSW-level licensure in NJ.

A parent of two young adult children, she currently assists her husband in their home-based medical-legal consulting business. Katie also volunteers with Brigantine NJ-based non-profit, South Jersey Cancer Fund, an organization that has provided financial assistance to cancer patients and their families since 1964.

After summering at the Jersey shore much of her life, she and her family purchased their first vacation home on the island of Brigantine, NJ in 2003. What attracted her most to Brigantine was its natural beauty and the sense of quiet calm on the 6.9-mile long island.

After being a “second homeowner” for many years, she happily became a full-time year-round resident in 2020. Upon learning of the offshore wind projects planned for Brigantine’s beaches in late 2022, Katie immediately connected with a small citizen group in town, and in a few short weeks, Defend Brigantine Beach, Inc. was born. Her group started to get the word out with a Facebook page and grew in a few months’ time to over 3500 members. The group’s mission focuses on outreach and education about the costly and negative ecological, economic implications of offshore wind turbines. She began as the group’s Media/Communications manager and is now also the President of Defend Brigantine Beach, Inc.

Her main goal in fighting offshore wind is to keep New Jersey’s beaches in their natural state, with a clean ocean and healthy marine life, so that her children, and the children they have one day, will be able to enjoy the beach as it was meant to be.

Constance Bumgarner Gee is an American scholar, memoirist, animal rights and environmental activist, and advocate of the medical use of cannabis. She was the founder and director of the Arts Policy and Administration Program at The Ohio State University, and later an assistant professor at Brown University and tenured associate professor at Vanderbilt University.

Dr. Gee has served on the boards of the Columbus (OH) Humane Society, Trinity Repertory Company (Providence, RI), the Rhode Island State Arts Council and, in Nashville, on the boards of the Frist Center for the Visual Arts and Actors Bridge Ensemble. She served on the Board of Advisors of the Curb Center for Art, Enterprise, and Public Policy at Vanderbilt University. She also served on the board of Through the Flower, founded by artist Judy Chicago.

Dr. Gee currently lives in Massachusetts and is a member of Green Oceans.

In the fall of 2018, Suzanne Hornick first heard about the plan to industrialize our coastline. Previously, she worked with the city of Ocean City, NJ to address the extreme flooding the island was enduring regularly. The group she founded, Ocean City NJ Flooding, comprised of more than 5600 members, was very successful in getting the island’s infrastructure updated and in good working order, vastly improving the flooding island-wide. This success was due in large to part to the citizens becoming involved in citizen science data collection initiatives led by Suzanne with guidance from the NJDEP, Dr. Thomas Herrington and other climate science organizations such as Anthropocene Alliance and I See Change.

Suzanne attended Orsted’s first public meeting in the fall of 2018 in order to relay the information to the members of her flooding group and Facebook following. After attending a few meetings with Orsted where the information kept changing, Suzanne decided to research the issue of offshore wind in depth in order to decide whether to support the plan.

When offshore wind’s disastrous effects on our ocean became apparent to the Ocean City community, Suzanne founded the first and largest NJ community group against offshore wind. This effort evolved into Protect Our Coast NJ which was formally founded by her and 5 others in 2019. This group has spawned smaller groups in several other states on the East Coast as well as several groups now in existence in NJ.

POCNJ incorporated in May 2023 and in June Suzanne left the group. She continues to provide her passion, expertise and assistance to several groups including Save The Right Whales Coalition in an effort to stop offshore wind, prevent the eradication of several endangered species, the senseless death of our marine life and the industrialization of our ocean. The main emphasis of her work is public education and awareness of all that is irresponsible, dangerous and potentially catastrophic about offshore wind.

Si Kinsella supports efforts to reduce carbon emission and advocates for vigorous review oriented around the science of proposed development projects.  Whether proposed actions are designed to: reduce carbon emissions in the atmospheric environment; remediate sites containing chemical contaminants in soil and groundwater; or impact the marine environment that poses a risk to natural fisheries (including North Atlantic Right Whale habitats), such proposals should be pre-conditioned on thorough scientific analysis.

Currently, Si is spearheading lawsuits against South Fork Wind and the New York State Public Service Commission for failing to comply with statutory mandated environmental review and procurement violation of New York State Finance and Municipal Law.

Simon is based on the South Fork of eastern Long Island.  He works with leading marine scientists and lawyers to ensure safe, responsible development.  Born and educated in Australia, Si spent over a decade in London before moving to the US in 2007.  He has a background in finance, accountancy, law, and corporate strategy.  Si currently lives between Manhattan and Long Island.  For further information, please email Si@oswSouthFork.info or visit www.oswSouthFork.info and www.Wainscott.Life.  

Leslie Mangold has had two careers in her lifetime - broadcast television and teaching television production. Recently retired, she is now devoting her time to helping to save and protect whales, the ocean and other marine life. Leslie is working at the grassroots level, and most recently helped to organize a Save the Whales rally (in Pt. Pleasant NJ) which was held on World Whale Day,. As she says, the Ocean belongs to all of us, and we need to take care of it.

She fears that the planned and proposed offshore wind turbines will cause extensive damage and harm to the ocean, marine ecosystem, marine mammal population and ultimately our lives.

Growing up at the Jersey Shore fostered a deep love and respect for the ocean and all the marine mammals in it. Like so many others, she is happy to see how clean and clear the ocean has become and thrilled to see whales and dolphins making their journey along the shoreline, which clearly demonstrates that the marine mammal protection act works. We must continue our fight against offshore wind, for our ocean, our marine life, and our lives.

Eric is an offshore enthusiast, charter boat captain and culinary expert who has lived on the coast since 1995. He launched Keep Our Oceans Ocean after seeing whales and dolphins unexpectedly washing up on the beaches of his home town, Ocean City, MD. This first hand account fueled him to never stop fighting for our oceans and its marine life. Since then, similar stories of sea life washing up on the shores of the east coast are uncovered daily. Upon further investigation, he discovered work had begun on offshore wind farms located off the east coast and may be contributing to these senseless deaths.

I am a long time resident of Maryland and currently live in Annapolis. Growing up on the bay, over the years I have witnessed the waxing and waning of fish species and blue crabs from over harvesting and ineffective management of our natural resources. I studied Marine Biology undergraduate but ultimately pursued a career in academic Diagnostic Imaging.

I spend most of my leisure time boating and fishing on the Chesapeake Bay exploring the numerous tributaries and coves. My love for the ocean bought me to Bethany Beach, DE where I became intrigued with the American Horseshoe Crab. Since that time I have studied and read many books/research papers pertaining to horseshoe crabs and the current threats to their survival.

Since retiring, I devote much of my time helping to protect our precious marine life for future generations to enjoy and experience. The latest threat, offshore wind turbines are to be erected where the effect on the marine habitat will be the greatest. We have a responsibility to conduct extensive research before moving forward with this massive offshore wind development.

Michael Shellenberger is a Time Magazine "Hero of the Environment," Green Book Award winner, and the founder and president of Environmental Progress.

He is the author of the best-selling book, Apocalypse Never, and the recently published book, San Fransicko.

Michael has testified before Congress six times since January of last year and advises policymakers around the globe.

He has helped save nuclear reactors worldwide, from Illinois and New York to South Korea and Taiwan, preventing an increase in air pollution equivalent to adding over 24 million cars to the road.

He is a regular contributor to Forbes, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post, and his TED talks have been viewed over five million times.

Eric Turner has over thirty years of experience working with small businesses in systems analysis and business and data analytics. He has degrees in Data Analytics specializing in Data Integration, Analytics and Reporting. Turner has vacationed on Martha’s Vineyard’s since 1990 and for the past several years worked to preserve the island’s natural beauty and maintain the natural habitat for marine life that depends on the waters of New England to survive.

Keith is a commercial fisherman who has worked in a multitude of positions ranging from deckhand to engineer to mate in the scalloping industry for the past fifteen years. When he isn’t out on the sea, he is an advocate for his three children with special needs and medical complexities. In between learning how to balance life on land and sea, the skills he learned with his children help him in his activism to protect the ocean and its inhabitants from the industrialization of offshore wind. It is with this newfound passion that he is learning how to educate his peers on the New Bedford, MA waterfront about the environmental damage and significant economic impacts that offshore wind development will have on commercial fishing along the Eastern Seaboard. Keith is proud to be working with SRWC to help protect marine life and, also, to bring awareness to his colleagues—those who work hard to provide for their families and who love and respect the ocean.