Writer: Ryan Gandolfo
2 min read October 2023 — New Jersey’s offshore wind development has come under fire as Cape May County and multiple tourism and industry associations recently filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government to challenge the approval of the Ocean Wind 1 Project.
On Tuesday, defendants including Cape May, the county’s chamber of commerce and six other local organizations and companies submitted a complaint that the U.S. government’s approval of the project shortcutted “the statutory and regulatory requirements that were enacted to protect our nation’s environmental and natural resources, its industries, and its people.”
The main concerns cited were the environmental impact of the project’s turbines and construction as well as its effect on local tourism. Ørsted US Offshore Wind, the U.S. affiliate of the Danish offshore wind energy development group, is leading the project approximately 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City. It’s one of eight U.S. projects that includes nearly $2 billion of investments across the country.
In July 2023, Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration touted the state’s goals for offshore wind and other key industries that bring the Garden State more diversification to its economy. “Whether it’s offshore wind, film production, or residential and commercial development, by bolstering our standing as a national leader in these industries, we will continue to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey for all,” said Gov. Murphy in a press release last quarter.
Right around the same time in early July, the United States Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) approved the construction plans for the 161,000-acre wind farm by Ørsted.
The suit filed this week cited the potential impacts on the county’s tourism economy, which generated $7.4 billion in 2022, as well as commercial fishing, which is another major contributor to the county’s economy.
The U.S. Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy notes one of the key advantages of offshore wind is its proximity to coastal areas — where nearly 80% of the country’s electricity demand occurs. However, as pointed out by the plaintiffs of the case, the impacts on the environment and other industries are still unknown.
When Invest: spoke with Cape May County Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Emily Paul last year, she highlighted the need to balance the development of the local economy and protecting the environment. “Cape May County is this rare place where the environment and the economy are very much intertwined, so we continuously look to ensure that we are protecting the environment while at the same time helping our local economy,” said Paul.
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