in our Spotlight on Business Report the state's offshore power industry is getting some of the wind taken out of its sails before it even launches a new Monmouth University poll out today finds support for wind energy is plunging among residents with few who believe the sector will lead to major job growth in the state and a growing number who feel it'll hurt the shore tourism economy so what's leading to the shift in opinion Ted Goldberg reports a majority of new jerseyans still support offshore wind but according to the latest Monmouth poll that level of support has dwindled over the last four years it has been a clear impact over the course of this year from a misinformation campaign I believe what you're seeing is a more educated public according to Monmouth 54 percent of new jerseyans support offshore wind a steep decline from 84 percent about a decade ago and 76 percent four years ago the differences get more dramatic when you break it down by party 76 percent of Democrats support offshore wind while just 28 percent of Republicans approve four years ago Republican approval of offshore wind was 69 percent I think that's kind of a reminder of obviously a comparison lens how you interpret these poll results probably has to do with whether you think offshore wind activity has contributed to New Jersey's whale strandings over the last year as people continue to see whales and dolphins dying on our beaches and as people begin to look into what this is going to cost them in terms of increased energy costs and the impact on tourism down the shore as people continue to educate themselves I think you're going to continue to see a steady decline none of our expert agencies at the state or federal level including NOAA and boam the Bureau of ocean Energy Management I've made that link at all agencies claim that there's no evidence uh there's no evidence because they haven't looked at the issue Bob Stern leads save LBI a community group suing the federal government over offshore wind leases they argue that surveys for future offshore wind hurt whales much worse than companies let on they estimate that the range only extends a tenth of a mile from the vessel at levels where the whales will be disturbed we say that noise level goes out to 30 miles whales aren't the only concern for New Jersey residents about 40 percent of them believe wind farms will hurt summer tourism people say that this is going to hurt New Jersey tourism but half of those same people are okay with drilling for oil off the coast so the wind farm is going to hurt Jersey Shore tourism but oil drilling off the coast won't Republicans supported offshore drilling for oil or gas by 30 percentage points but Democrats and independents strongly opposed it talk about the whale beachings uh impact on short tourism even though there's no evidence for any of these things that that that side has been much more effective in capturing the public attention orsted and Atlantic Farms plan to operate these offshore wind farms in a statement orstead says a majority of new jerseyans support offshore wind because they recognize the incredible need to reduce our Reliance on fossil fuels ocean wind one not only addresses the very real and visible impacts of climate change here in New Jersey but also brings a host of economic benefits including good paying jobs and local investment Atlantic shores's statement in part says we have a role to play in helping people understand off or wind and ensuring that they have accurate information we Embrace this role and will continue to openly communicate with new jerseyans who want to know more orstead has gotten Federal approval while Atlantic Shores is still waiting for NJ Spotlight News I'm Ted Goldberg