The New Jersey State Department of Environmental Protection said in a new statement this week they have no evidence that wind projects ongoing in the coast off New Jersey are the cause of over a dozen whale deaths in recent months. The statement reads: “As of March 2023, no offshore wind-related construction activities have taken place in waters off the New Jersey coast. While DEP has no reason to conclude that whale mortality is attributable to offshore wind-related activities, DEP will continue to monitor.”. Many residents and elected officials have called for a halt to the projects until further studies can be done.