Who We Are

Save Right Whales Coalition Groups

Wildlife Energy and Conservation Coalition

We are an alliance of grassroots environmental and community organizations, scientists, and conservationists working to protect communities and wildlife threatened by irresponsible energy development. Our goal is to raise awareness and bring people together to take action against these impending threats.

Environmental Progress

Environmental Progress (EP) was founded in 2016 with the mission of achieving nature and prosperity for all. Our strategy was to tell the truth about nuclear energy and the right of poor nations to cheap energy, and build a movement to defend both. This work resulted in Apocalypse Never, (HarperCollins 2020), dozens of articles for and in Forbes, New York Times, Quillette, and other publications, and a movement of pro-nuclear organizations around the world.

Defend Brigantine Beach

Founded in 2022, our mission is to protect our precious marine and coastal ecosystem from the potentially devastating effects of industrial offshore wind.

Protect Our Coast NJ

Started in early 2021, Protect Our Coast NJ is a non-partisan, all volunteer (no paid staff) citizen activist group based in New Jersey. We are residents, homeowners, business owners, fishermen and visitors of the New Jersey coastal communities with one common goal: to stop the development of offshore wind energy off the coast of New Jersey. Our group has highlighted and shared the known risks and dangers, informed the public of the experimental aspects as well as unknowns intentionally omitted from the ads by wind developers, politicians and those with vested interests. We have taken action in our towns by meeting and sharing our concerns with our politicians, the Board of Public Utilities, offshore wind companies as well as family, friends and neighbors.

Green Oceans

We believe in climate change and understand the urgency to reduce our dependency on fossil fuels. The ocean and the life it supports awes us. We want to protect every aspect of this life, from the smallest organisms to the largest whale. Our mission is to protect this beautiful and misunderstood ecosystem from industrialization, which will drive whales to extinction, decrease oxygen production, compromise carbon dioxide absorption, threaten fish stocks, decrease biodiversity, and diminish ocean currents.

Save Right Whales Leadership

Mary Chalke

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.

Lisa Linowes

Lisa Linowes resides in rural New Hampshire and has been a leading figure in the wind energy debate for nearly two decades. She serves as Executive Director for the Windaction Group, a national advocacy focused on the impact and policy issues associated with industrial wind energy development. Lisa has testified before Congress on environmental issues, and she has held elected and volunteer positions in community planning and land negotiation.

David Shanker

Born and raised in NJ, David Shanker has deep roots to the New Jersey Shore and its Ocean and Bays. Professionally, David was an executive in the Market Research Industry which gave him and his family the opportunity to live in NY, Chicago and Los Angeles. Personally, he has spent every summer since he was 10 years old at the New Jersey Shore.

He learned to sail at an early age, was SCUBA certified at 16 and was an ocean lifeguard for Long Beach Township, NJ during his high school and college summers. During his sophomore year at the University of Rhode Island, David spent a semester at sea on the r/v Regina Maris studying Humpback whales in the shallow banks just north of the Dominican Republic. He is a 50+ year Member and Past Commodore of the Brant Beach Yacht Club (NJ) and the current President of the Brant Beach Sailing Foundation.

David’s recent involvement with Save the Right Whales came about as he discovered how the offshore wind yurbine developments being built up and down the East Coast (and off the coast of NJ) will harm this beautiful (and endangered) species. David is currently focused on educating and raising awareness about what is happening in our Oceans and the impact it will have on all marine mammals.

Michael Shellenberger

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.

Si Kinsella

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.