Van Drew, Smith celebrate demise of Ørsted wind projects

Two Republican congressmen who represent large swaths of the Jersey Shore, Reps. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) and Chris Smith (R-Manchester), are lauding the recent announcement that wind energy giant Ørsted is dropping its planned wind projects off the New Jersey coastline. 

“Ørsted’s decision was a first step in exposing the economic unsustainability and environmental dangerousness of ocean wind turbines – each the size of the Chrysler Building in New York City – and Ørsted’s pulling out of the deal may help slow and eventually halt similar projects off New Jersey’s coast,” Smith said.

“These Green New Deal style wind farms were bad for our economy, our environment, and would have been a complete disaster for hardworking middle-class families in South Jersey,” Van Drew concurred.

The two congressmen had both been heavily involved in the fight to halt the huge offshore wind projects, which were a major part of Gov. Phil Murphy’s green energy plan. The projects, they argued, would have damaged tourism along the Shore, caused problems for commercial and military vessels, and harmed marine life, particularly whales and dolphins.

Ørsted’s decision, though, had little to do with any of those concerns. Instead, the company simply determined that given inflation and supply chain issues, the projects weren’t financially feasible anymore – despite the many tax credits that the federal government and the New Jersey Legislature had directed towards the company.

“Turns out that despite huge taxpayer subsidies and credible predictions of big increases to ratepayers, Ørsted has concluded that they will still lose money,” Smith said.

The third congressman representing parts of the Shore, Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone (D-Long Branch), struck a very different tone. Pallone was a strong supporter of the offshore wind projects, and said that Ørsted’s decision shouldn’t spell the end for a broader agenda to fight climate change in New Jersey.

“One company’s announcement does not change our commitment to transitioning to a clean economy and investing in renewable energy sources,” Pallone said. “The United States is on the frontlines of the climate crisis, and we must stand ready to support and incentivize the energy infrastructure of the future. New Jersey simply cannot sit on the sidelines as emissions from fossil fuels contribute to stronger storms and flooding events threatening homes and businesses in our state.”

Indeed, while Ørsted’s Ocean Wind 1 and 2 may have been sunk, that doesn’t mean offshore wind in New Jersey is dead – a possibility that Van Drew says he’s prepared for.

“While we welcome this news, we must continue to build on this momentum and see to it that the remaining projects off the coast of New Jersey meet the same fate,” Van Drew said.