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Wind Power News: New Jersey
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
The dirty details of offshore wind’s ‘clean energy’
“In New Jersey, it’s go hard or go home,” Gov. Phil Murphy Tweeted after signing an executive order to up the state’s offshore wind goals by nearly 50% last September. Perhaps, the governor didn’t consider the fact that those in the state who question the perils and efficacy of offshore wind turbines are playing by the same saying. This “clean energy economy,” as conceived and fast-tracked by the Biden administration (and treated as the holy grail by Gov. Phil Murphy), . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind foes in New Jersey gathering force legally and politically
Opponents of offshore wind energy projects in New Jersey are gathering force legally and politically as they seek to snuff out the nascent industry. Within the last week, three residents groups sued New Jersey over a key approval of its first planned wind farm; the research arm of Congress agreed to investigate the impact of offshore wind on the environment and other areas; and lawmakers in two counties most heavily impacted by wind farms stepped up their efforts to block . . . Complete story »
Court challenge filed re New Jersey approval of offshore wind project
Trenton (June 16). Three groups have filed suit in Superior Court challenging New Jersey DEP’s approval of the Ocean Wind 1 project consisting of nearly 100 turbines to be located 15 miles off New Jersey’s busiest beach communities. In papers filed in New Jersey’s Appellate Division, Save LBI, Defend Brigantine Beach and Protect Our Coast NJ said that the turbines, at least 906 feet in height (with their blades, nearly as tall as the Empire State Building), will be fully . . . Complete story »
Federal watchdog opens investigation into offshore wind impacts amid whale deaths
A top federal watchdog agency is opening an investigation into the impacts of offshore wind along the New Jersey coastline amid calls for a moratorium on development and an uptick in marine wildlife deaths. In a phone call Thursday afternoon, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), a nonpartisan agency tasked with conducting oversight of government operations, informed Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., that it would conduct the probe. Smith, who represents a district along the Atlantic coast, has repeatedly called for a . . . Complete story »
Offshore wind encounters turbulence over NJ
The offshore wind industry’s troubles continue to pile up – not only in New Jersey but in neighboring states along the Eastern Seaboard. On Wednesday, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso, perhaps one of the sector’s biggest advocates, let loose with an uncharacteristic rant at a developer in the emerging industry. Although he did not name the company, it was seen as a reference to Ørsted, which owns and is developing New Jersey’s initial offshore wind project. Fiordaliso . . . Complete story »
Cape May County fights back against offshore wind farm
The Cape May County Board of County Commissioners unanimously passed Resolution 314-23 on May 23. The Resolution contains eight pages of details about the County of Cape May’s efforts to engage with the Danish wind corporation, Orsted, to try to find common ground and mitigate some of the negative impacts of Orsted’s Ocean Wind One offshore wind generation facilities project. Orsted has conceded that if it constructs its Ocean Wind One and Ocean Wind Two offshore wind farm projects, windmills . . . Complete story »
Offshore windmills will cost Cape May, NJ, $1B in tourism revenue – report
Cape May County Commissioners have unanimously passed a resolution opposed to offshore wind projects and vow to continue to fight the installation of wind mills off the coast. A report supporting the resolution claims the windmills will cost Cape May County more than $1.1 billion in lost tourism revenue and will have a devastating impact on food service, hospitality, retail, rental housing and other segments of the local economy. Wind developer Orsted, the report claims, has admitted 15% of tourists . . . Complete story »
NJ Assembly marine mammal death hearing ignores facts, reinforces need for halt to offshore wind activities
Today’s New Jersey Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee’s hearing on Marine Mammal Deaths reinforced the need for an immediate halt to all offshore wind permitting, surveying and preconstruction activities and solicitations for new power off the coast of New Jersey. This cessation is long overdue according to East Coast citizen-led marine and eco-advocacy groups opposing the proposed offshore wind developments here. While this hearing provided an important public forum to examine the issues, it ignored key facts and basic . . . Complete story »
Wind project scope ‘staggering’: Clean Ocean Action argues for pilot project first
It wasn’t “until the whales and the dolphins started washing up that people’s attention was able to focus” on the offshore wind farms, according to Cindy Zipf, and when people looked beyond the whales, they realized what is happening is “staggering.” “I don’t think ever in the history of mankind have we proposed to industrialize an ecosystem this fast and at this magnitude,” she said. Zipf is executive director of Clean Ocean Action, a coalition of groups dedicated to protecting . . . Complete story »
Letter to Mads Nipper, CEO, Ørsted
Dear Mr. Nipper, We write as concerned citizens and residents of the State of New Jersey, U.S.A. Our groups total tens of thousands of volunteer citizen advocates including more than 500,000 signatories to various petitions supporting our efforts. The NJ Shore is a national treasure enjoyed by millions who live and work, visit and vacation here and have done so for generations. On behalf of all the good people who love and enjoy the NJ Shore and its communities, please . . . Complete story »
