There’s no let-up in controversy over New Jersey’s offshore wind projects. And polls show Democrats and environmental advocates seem to be losing some of their former edge in the debate.
Protesters in Ocean City were arrested Tuesday, after trying to block construction of an underground power cable that would connect to offshore wind turbines.
Ørsted’s wind farm project is designed to generate clean energy and combat climate change, but that’s not how the protesters see it, said Denise Philipp. “We’re just here, trying to stop Ørsted, trying to save our ocean, trying to save our beaches and our community,” Philipp said before getting handcuffed by police.
State Senate Republicans, meanwhile, sent a letter asking Democratic leadership in Trenton to call a special legislative session on the issue. Republicans, who opposed signing over an estimated billion dollars in federal tax credits to Ørsted, also disapprove of Gov. Phil Murphy’s appointment of Christine Guhl-Sadovy to succeed the late Joe Fiordaliso as head of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities; Guhl-Sadovy helped craft Murphy’s Energy Master Plan.
“I would have liked to have seen somebody chair the agency that was a little more balanced, that … was able to hear both sides of the argument…” said Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris). “I don’t think we’re getting that. I think we’re getting a rubber stamp for the Murphy administration.”
Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey, defended Guhl-Sadovy. “I think unfortunately, these attacks against Christine are partisan in nature,” he said.
O’Malley said most New Jersey residents still support offshore wind energy. A Monmouth University Poll shows that support dropped 30 points since 2011.
Ørsted is also facing financial headwinds. The Danish energy company recently extended the schedule for its Ocean Wind 1 project by a year, to 2026, citing kinks in the supply chain and high interest rates.
The latest milestone: On Wednesday, NOAA Fisheries authorized underwater construction on the Ocean Wind 1 project as long rules designed to mitigate harmful impacts on 16 species of marine mammals, especially North Atlantic right whales, are followed.
— Editor’s note: Orsted is a financial supporter of NJ Spotlight News.
