RFK Jr. Orders CDC to Research Alleged Harms of Offshore Wind Farms On Human Well being
https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/rfk-jr-orders-cdc-to-study-alleged-harms-of-offshore-wind-farms
(Bloomberg) — Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. directed Centers for Disease Control and Prevention staff to probe the potential harms of offshore wind farms, according to people familiar with the matter, as President Donald Trump marshals his administration to thwart the clean energy source he loathes.
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In late summer, HHS instructed CDC’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to prepare research about wind farms’ impact on fishing businesses, according to the people, who spoke on condition of anonymity to describe private conversations. Kennedy has personally met with NIOSH director John Howard about the issue and listed particular experts for Howard’s team to contact. The office of the US surgeon general has also been involved in the initiative, which HHS leadership — prior to the ongoing government shutdown — had aimed to have completed within a couple months.
Among the offshore wind health impacts that HHS staff have investigated is the electric magnetic frequency generated from undersea cables used to connect power from the machines to the electric grid, one of the people said. Wind proponents say they aren’t harmful. HHS spokespeople didn’t respond to inquiries.
The push reflects how Kennedy has swiftly reordered the CDC’s priorities, and underscores the Trump administration’s antipathy towards the renewable energy source. Trump has ordered a broad government review of offshore wind farms and enlisted agencies including Environmental Protection Agency and the departments of Energy, Defense and Commerce to be part of a “inter-departmental coalition team,” Kennedy said in August.
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Climate Depot’s Marc Morano:
“It’s about time that offshore wind was scrutinized for its impacts on human health and the environment. For far too long, the climate agenda has pushed solar and wind power on the public with baseless claims of it being ‘green energy.’ All energy sources have both positive and negative effects. The key to any energy source is to look at the cost-benefit ratio, and that is where wind power really gets blown over. Solar and wind energy combined make up less than 5% of total energy production in the U.S. For decades, coal, oil, and gas have been demonized for negative health and environmental impacts, but the plus side is that fossil fuels produce nearly 80% of global energy.”