Denmark received no bids in its largest-ever wind power tender, aimed to more than triple its offshore capacity by the end of the decade.
The Danish Energy Agency hadn’t received a single bid in a tender for three offshore wind farms in the North Sea by Thursday’s deadline, it said in a statement. It now will initiate a dialog with the market to find out why.
Denmark’s Climate and Energy Minister Lars Aagaard called the results “very disappointing” and said they were “not at all what was expected” when a broad majority in parliament entered into the political agreement to expand the country’s offshore wind capacity.
It was the first round in an tender to establish at least 6 gigawatts of wind power at sea in six parks by 2030. Aagaard recognized that the results “do not give rise to great optimism” for the other three farms in the tender, but said there may be “other players and business models at play.” The deadline for these bids is in April.
Denmark, a country of about 6 million people, is home to some of the world’s largest wind-energy companies, including Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Orsted A/S. The new offshore parks, in which the Danish state would take stakes of 20%, were vital for Denmark to reach its target to become carbon neutral in 2045.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz is flanked by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter and Police Chief Axel Henry, left to right, during a press conference at Como Lakeside Pavilion in St. Paul, Minn., on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Governor Tim Walz met with St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, Police Chief Axel Henry and Parks and Recreation Director Andy Rodriguez to discuss legislation geared toward curbing copper theft.
A trade group representing scrap metal workers has sued the Minnesota Department of Commerce, alleging that a new law designed to curb copper theft will violate the state’s constitution and shutter the scrap metal industry.
The Recycled Materials Association on Monday sued Grace Arnold in her capacity as commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Commerce. ReMA officials say in the lawsuit that the copper wire theft law, which will become effective Jan. 1 and require a license for people who sell copper, is an unconstitutional separation of powers that gives Arnold sweeping authority and little guidance. And because the bill applies to small amounts of copper metal, industry leaders worry that all Minnesotans selling scrap metal will need a license.
“This is critical because almost all of the ‘scrap metal’ that is sold to ‘scrap metal dealers’ in Minnesota contain ‘copper metal,’ ” the lawsuit read, adding that jewelry, car parts, home decor and many garden tools contain copper.
“In sum, then, the Copper Metal Law will, if ‘enforced’ without the relief sought herein, effectively shutter the entire ‘scrap metal’ industry in Minnesota.”
Department of Commerce spokesperson Nancy Linden said they cannot comment on open litigation.
Monday’s lawsuit spells the latest chapter in an issue that has drained city budgets, vexed authorities and risked residents’ lives.
In St. Paul, where many of the state’s copper thefts have been, one ring of thieves caused more than $210,000 in damages. City officials spent $1.2 million on such repairs last year, marking a 380% increase from five years ago. Minneapolis officials are experimenting with silent alarms, aluminum wires, and even duct tape to stop thieves from stripping wire copper wire near the lakes and West River Parkway.
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In 1954, three visionary scientists—Daryl Chapin, Calvin Fuller, and Gerald Pearson—forever changed the landscape of energy by inventing the modern photovoltaic cell at Bell Laboratories in Berkeley Heights, NJ. Their groundbreaking work was the culmination of several pivotal milestones in the development of solar power, all of which took place right here in New Jersey. To honor their legacy, the Chapin, Fuller, Pearson Medal was created, celebrating those who have made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of solar energy in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
Over the past twelve years, the Medal has been awarded sparingly, only to those who have truly transformed our solar industry. Previous recipients include such esteemed figures as Assemblyman (later BPU Commissioner) Upendra Chivukula, Senator Bob Smith, and NJBPU President Jeanne Fox. This year, MSSIA is proud to recognize two more remarkable individuals: Tom Johnson of NJ Spotlight and former NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso (posthumous), medal will be accepted by NJBPU President Christine Guhl- Sadovy and Joe Fiordaliso Jr. Tom and Joe Sr.’s tireless dedication and exceptional contributions have helped shape the solar industry in New Jersey and set a standard for the future.
We are deeply grateful for the support of our annual event sponsors, including Gold level: Advanced Solar ProductsIBEW local 400, & ConnectDER, Silver Level: Amergy Solar, Ecological Systems, & Greenskies Clean Focus, and Bronze level: Offit Kurman,NJPACE & Opal Energy Group.As this is a special occasion that we have combined with our holiday party, we are still welcoming additional sponsors who wish to elevate this event and be part of this momentous celebration. Sponsorship opportunities for this event start at just $250. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact our coordinator at coordinator@mssia.org for details on registering a sponsorship.
The Mid-Atlantic Solar and Storage Industries Association (MSSIA) is dedicated to advancing solar energy and energy storage as the primary energy sources in the Mid-Atlantic region, to create a sustainable energy future for all segments of the population while generating economic growth and high-quality jobs.
People walking on a popular South Jersey beach came upon a stranded whale Tuesday afternoon.
Cape May Police got the call to respond to Sunset Beach around 3:30 p.m.
Robert Newkirk via Facebook
A crew from the Marine Mammal Stranding Center responded shortly after.
The whale appeared to be a juvenile Minke whale, but MMSC officials could not confirm that. Video posted to Facebook shows the whale was not much larger than the bystanders who were standing next to it.
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Proposed rule change represents a notable transformation of reporting obligations that would likely have a chilling effect on the state’s commercial real estate market.
In October 2024, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) published a proposed rule (the “Proposed Rule”) that would amend its site remediation rules to codify and implement provisions of the legislation known as SRRA 2.0, which became effective on August 23, 2019. Most notably, the Proposed Rule would amend the Administrative Requirements for the Remediation of Contaminated Sites (ARRCS), N.J.A.C. 7:26C, to require prospective purchasers of real property conducting pre-closing environmental due diligence to, upon the discovery of a previously unidentified discharge of hazardous substances, immediately notify the NJDEP and the record owner.
What You Need to Know:
•NJDEP proposed a new rule that would, among other things, require a prospective purchaser of real property who obtains specific knowledge during pre-closing due diligence of a discharge of hazardous substances on the property to immediately notify NJDEP and the contract seller (record owner) of the discharge, potentially triggering further investigation and remedial obligations.
•Until now, reporting obligations have not extended to prospective purchasers performing environmental due diligence.
•The Proposed Rule, if adopted as is, could discourage real estate deals in New Jersey.
•The comment deadline for the Proposed Rule is January 31, 2025.
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A Coast Guard aircraft captures imagery of a lancha near South Padre Island, Texas, on Sept. 30, 2021by
By Mike Schuler, gCaptain
The U.S. Treasury Department has taken decisive action against Mexico’s Gulf Cartel, sanctioning five key members for their involvement in illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing operations that serve as a front for human smuggling and drug trafficking activities.
The operation, centered at Playa Bagdad near the U.S. border, involves the use of small, swift boats called “lanchas” for illegal fishing of red snapper and shark species in U.S. waters. These same vessels are utilized for smuggling drugs and migrants across the border.
“Today’s action highlights how transnational criminal organizations like the Gulf Cartel rely on a variety of illicit schemes like IUU fishing to fund their operations, along with narcotics trafficking and human smuggling,” said Acting Under Secretary Bradley T. Smith.
Among those sanctioned are brothers Ismael “Mayelo” and Omar “Samorano” Guerra Salinas, who oversee operations at Playa Bagdad, and Francisco Javier Sierra Angulo, who leads the cartel’s activities in Matamoros. Two lancha camp owners, Raul Decuir Garcia and Ildelfonso Carrillo Sapien, were also designated for enabling illegal cross-border fishing operations.
The sanctions, implemented under Executive Order 14059, block all U.S.-based assets of these individuals and prohibit U.S. persons from engaging in transactions with them. This enforcement action results from collaboration between multiple U.S. agencies, including the Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, along with Mexico’s Financial Intelligence Unit.
The Gulf Cartel’s illegal fishing operations not only generate millions in annual revenue but also contribute to environmental damage through the inadvertent death of other marine species. The organization has a documented history of violence, including involvement in the kidnapping and murder of American citizens in March 2023.
The Treasury Department participates in the U.S. Interagency Working Group on IUU Fishing, established by the SAFE Act to coordinate anti-IUU fishing efforts. In 2022, President Biden’s National Security Memorandum identified IUU fishing as a major threat to ocean health and global fisheries, impacting economic growth and food systems worldwide.
“Treasury, as part of a whole-of-government approach to combatting transnational criminal organizations, remains committed to disrupting these networks and restricting these groups’ ability to profit from these activities,” added Smith.
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