This information is to provide the public with a representation of a state-approved wind project off the southern New Jersey coast, and to explain the state’s ambitious efforts to reach certain milestones relating to ocean wind energy in the coming years.  This is not intended as endorsement or opposition to any current or future project.

The Orsted Project:

In the Fall, 2020 Avalon newsletter there was a discussion about a state-approved energy wind farm to be located 15 miles off the coast of southern New Jersey in the Atlantic Ocean.  New Jersey has provided approvals for the wind farm which will be built by Orsted to provide alternative energy to New Jersey.

Property owners in southern coastal communities have questions about the project, including the environmental impacts and how it will “look” from the coastline of the beach communities.  There are more media reports about the project as there have been public hearings and various environmental studies on the farm.  Certainly, “view” and “what it will look like” are concerns for the public as well.

Orsted has created a link for the project located at www.oceanwind.com.  Towards the bottom of the front page of the site, there are pictures of what Orsted believes the project will look like from the coastline.  If you scroll through the photos, you will find representations of Avalon and Stone Harbor.  Orsted has provided some instructions on how far to remain away from your device in order to view the wind farm’s visual impacts.

Orsted has also provided a frequently asked questions page; it can be found here:  https://oceanwind.com/resources-and-faqs

State of New Jersey support for wind energy:

The State of New Jersey has an initiative that will result in energy goals of 7,500MW of offshore wind energy by the year 2035.  This is supported by the Governor and by the New Jersey Legislature.  A link to read more about the State’s initiatives is here:  https://www.njcleanenergy.com/renewable-energy/programs/nj-offshore-wind

Governor Phil Murphy signed an executive order accelerating New Jersey’s wind energy goals.  The copy of the executive order is here:

https://nj.gov/infobank/eo/056murphy/pdf/EO-92.pdf

New Jersey has a wind energy solicitation schedule that was released in February, 2020.  The schedule appears here:  https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562020/20200228a.shtml

Federal Government/Wind Energy/Atlantic Ocean:

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management falls under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Interior.  New Jersey is in the designated Atlantic OCS region.  Here is a link to learn more about energy plans for New Jersey projects:  https://www.boem.gov/renewable-energy/state-activities/new-jersey-activities

source The Borough of Avalon/images unsplash.com