NJ OK's Offshore Wind Project Grid Link Over Local Opposition
NJ OK's Offshore Wind Project Grid Link Over Local Opposition
Abstract
Opponents in Cape May County, N.J., to plans by renewable energy developer Orsted and New Jersey utility PSEG to build onshore connections for the state's first offshore wind energy farm-the 1.1-GW Ocean Winds 1 project-used a public hearing to step up their ongoing fight. The latest skirmish comes as the state Board of Public Utilities announced Sept. 28 its approval of the developers' plan to route the transmission line from up to 99 project wind turbines located about 15 miles offshore from the county under streets of Ocean City, N.J., located south or Atlantic City, to the land-based power grid via a substation to be located at the former B.L. England coal and oil-fired power plant in Upper Township. The wind farm, currently in the planning and permitting phase and set for completion by 2024, is estimated to cost $1.6 billion. Under a 2021 law signed by N.J. Gov. Phil Murphy, state approvals for the transmission needed for Ocean Wind and other projects can override local reviews. Madeline Urbish, Orsted government affairs and policy manager in New Jersey, said at the hearing that Ocean Wind 1 needed the easement to enable completion of the state's final environmental review that would keep the project construction schedule on track. "There are flaws noted in the [draft] document that need to be addressed and likely require additional research, said Ocean City resident Barbara McCall.Attorney Paul J. Baldini, representing nine county communities opposing the current route, said"Ocean Wind has failed to address the impact of the need for elevated infrastructure in the near future due to global warming. Design-build firm Burns & McDonnell said it won two EPC contracts for the onshore substations and cabling for Ocean Wind 1 and New Jersey contractor JINGOLI Power has been awarded a separate underground cabling contract.
