Orsted proposes to build a wind farm 15 miles off the South Jersey coast. This photo shows the turbines for an Orsted project overseas. (Photo credit Orsted)
By DONALD WITTKOWSKI and MADDY VITALE, Downbeach
Opponents of what would be New Jersey’s first offshore wind energy farm are celebrating the announcement that the project will be delayed until 2026, but vowed to keep up their fight until it fails altogether.
After suffering a series of legal and regulatory setbacks in the past year, the opponents are encouraged that they are finally gaining the upper hand in their efforts to block the Danish energy giant Orsted from building the wind farm 15 miles off the coast from Atlantic City to Stone Harbor.
“I think this is a sign that the tide is turning. While this is a positive step, this is not the time to pop the champagne corks,” said Bob Barr, a former Ocean City councilman who now serves on the Cape May County Board of Commissioners, the elected body overseeing county government.
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Ocean City and Cape May County officials have been among the most outspoken critics of Orsted’s plan to build 98 towering wind turbines as part of the controversial Ocean Wind 1 project, which some opponents believe will cause irreparable harm to the shore’s economy and environment.
“It is a terrible project, the worst I’ve ever seen. This project has no redeeming qualities at all,” Barr said.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, another high-profile opponent of the Ocean Wind 1 project, broadly criticized Orsted’s plans on several fronts.
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