Atlantic City Council repeals ordinance aiding offshore wind company Atlantic Shores 

In a brief special meeting Wednesday night, City Council unanimously voted to repeal an ordinance that would have helped Atlantic Shores move electricity from a proposed offshore wind farm across the city, to eventually join the power grid.

The ordinance, adopted Dec. 18, gave Atlantic Shores easements and other assistance allowing the company to move electricity under beaches, streets and parks, mostly through the city’s 5th Ward.

The December vote was 5-4, with new 5th Ward Councilwoman Maria Lacca one of the four no votes.

City Clerk Paula Geletei read the ordinance to repeal Ordinance 74 into the record Wednesday, calling it an “initiative ordinance” that was put together after her office received a petition in January from offshore wind opponents. It sought to put a public question on the November ballot seeking repeal of ordinance 74.

Geletei certified the petition Jan. 17 as having enough valid city-registered voter signatures to put it on the ballot, and council responded by moving to repeal its agreement with Atlantic Shores.

“City Council has the discretion to, within 20 days of submission of a certified petition, to pass an ordinance requested by the petition,” Geletei read from the ordinance to repeal. “City Council has determined it is necessary for the public health, safety and welfare of inhabitants to repeal Ordinance 74.”

The whole meeting took only about half an hour.

Before the vote, Councilman George Crouch, who voted for Ordinance 74 in December, took the offshore wind opponents in attendance Wednesday night to task for their behavior in previous council meetings.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, is working with President-elect Donald Trump to draft an executive order that would halt offshore wind activities along the East Coast, the congressman’s office said Monday.

Offshore wind opponents have dominated public discussion for months during city meetings, often questioning the motives of councilmembers and sometimes suggesting that council was taking bribes from the offshore wind industry to allow it access to the city.

“The disrespect that came to the dais in the last couple of months, and the name calling – being called a crook and ‘on the take’ – those kind of things,” Crouch said. “My daughter watches these meetings (and would ask), ‘Why did he call you a crook?’ … You have to be respectful.”

Council President Aaron Randolph said the people who came to the meetings from out of town to attack councilmembers would never behave the same way at their hometown council meetings.

Supporters on council argued Atlantic Shores would bring a new industry, good-paying jobs and development to the city.

Opponents, on the other hand, said it would harm tourism, fishing and real estate values without reducing climate change.

After the vote, Randolph, who also supported the Atlantic Shores project and Ordinance 74, moved to adjourn the meeting quickly.

“I’m tired of seeing these people,” Randolph said.

Atlantic Shores has a federal lease and permission from the state Board of Public Utilities to build a 1,510-megawatt offshore wind generating facility about 10 miles off Atlantic City, supported by ratepayers. But the future of offshore wind farms is uncertain after President Donald Trump’s election and signing of an executive order to re-examine all federal leases.

Near the end of a 6½-hour Atlantic City Council meeting Wednesday night, members passed an ordinance giving Atlantic Shores permanent easements and other concessions to move electricity across the city via underground cables.

Shell co-owns the large Atlantic Shores project, and the large oil and gas company told The Associated Press late last month it is writing off the project, citing increased competition, delays and a changing market.

Atlantic Shores has said it will push forward with its planned wind energy farm, but it is unclear whether the remaining company in the partnership, EDF-RE Offshore Development LLC, will continue to pursue it alone or seek another partner.