Two bills designed to encourage the development of wind energy projects off the state’s coast were held today by the Assembly Telecommunications Committee.

A third bill, A-1697 (Wisniewski), providing tax credits for onshore wind energy support facilities in northern New Jersey, was released.

The two bills that were held—A-4128 (Mazzeo) and S-2711 (Smith)—would exempt qualified wind energy projects from the "cost-benefit analysis" that the state Board of Public Utilities has relied on to deny several applications from Fishermen’s Energy to build a wind energy demonstration project off the coast of Atlantic City.

In the audio clip below, you’ll hear Committee Chairman Wayne D’Angelo explain why the two bills were held without discussion. You’ll also hear the only testimony–from the Sierra Club’s Jeff Tittel– on A-1697, the bill that was released.



Related energy and environment news stories:
NJ bills seek to get offshore wind turbines spinning
A first for wind power rises off Rhode Island – CNBC
The Future Of Massachusetts’ Offshore Wind Farm Is Uncertain – NPR
Germany is replacing its nuclear reactors with massive offshore wind farms – Quartz