First appeared in NewsBreak
By Aron Solomon
Late Wednesday, a New Jersey judge ordered Ocean City to allow Orsted to proceed with groundwork for its 1,100-megawatt offshore wind project that has received significant pushback over environmental and tourism season concerns, finding the Danish energy company met the statutory requirements for the permit.
The issue with Orsted and wind farm work in New Jersey has been a contentious one, with some communities calling for a halt to work on the first offshore wind farm in the state. However, other communities have accepted money from Orsted-backed grants.
Here are some of the key points the Danish clean energy developers, New Jersey legislators, and local residents have been grappling with since the idea for the project was launched:
Orsted’s Environmental Impact Statement: In May 2023, Orsted completed the final step in the environmental review for the Ocean Wind 1 offshore wind farm off the coast of southern New Jersey. This moves the project closer to reality.
Ocean Wind 2: In June 2021, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities issued an order awarding Ocean Wind 2 a 20-year OREC (Offshore Renewable Energy Certificate). This is a 1,148 MW offshore wind contract.
Opposition from Cape May County: In March 2023, Cape May County turned out to oppose the wind farm project, with Orsted filing petitions to run a transmission line through Ocean City and Marmora to connect the offshore wind turbines to the grid.
Support from State Officials: In January 2023, State Senate President Steve Sweeney wrote an op-ed in NJ.com, stating that New Jersey’s offshore wind industry is a boon for jobs and the climate.
Concerns from Citizens: Some citizens have expressed concerns about the proposed wind farm project, with a group called Protect Our Coast NJ advocating to stop NJ offshore wind development. They argue that the proposed wind turbines are drastically different from the Block Island Wind Farms and that the project has been plagued with errors.
While it should be clear that the development of offshore wind farms is an important step towards reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and combating climate change, we can’t overlook the concerns of local communities and ensure that the projects are developed in an environmentally responsible manner.
As New Jersey lawyer, David Gelman, observed:
“As well as the concerns of local New Jersey communities, it is also important to consider the potential impact on marine life and the local ecosystem. Ultimately, the decision to move forward with the wind farm project should be based on careful consideration of all the relevant factors, including legal, economic, environmental, and social impacts.”
That’s the problem with projects of this magnitude. Each round of what can become a very drawn-out fight is exhausting for everyone involved with or impacted by the project. It’s not just about trying to find that elusive balance between all of the competing interests of searching for middle-ground solutions to keep as many stakeholders at least as reasonably happy as possible it’s about balancing the need for progress with the innate desire of many to maintain the status quo.
About Aron Solomon
A Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer, Aron Solomon, JD, is the Chief Legal Analyst for Esquire Digital and the Editor-in-Chief for Today’s Esquire. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Fastcase 50, recognizing the top 50 legal innovators in the world. Aron has been featured in Forbes, CBS News, CNBC, USA Today, ESPN, TechCrunch, The Hill, BuzzFeed, Fortune, Venture Beat, The Independent, Fortune China, Yahoo!, ABA Journal, Law.com, The Boston Globe, YouTube, NewsBreak, and many other leading publications.
A Pulitzer Prize-nominated writer, Aron Solomon, JD, is the Chief Strategy Officer for AMPLIFY. He has taught entrepreneurship at McGill University and the University of Pennsylvania, and was elected to Fastcase 50, recognizing the top 50 legal innovators in the world. Aron has been featured in Newsweek, The Hill, Fast Company, Fortune, Forbes, CBS News, CNBC, USA Today, ESPN, TechCrunch, BuzzFeed, Venture Beat, The Independent, Fortune China, Abogados, Today’s Esquire, Yahoo!, ABA Journal, Law.com, The Boston Globe, and many other leading publications across the globe.
Discover more from Today's Esquire
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.