Saving Seafood

How an Offshore Wind Farm Would Come Onshore in Ocean City, NJ

March 10, 2022 — One of the world’s largest offshore wind developers, Denmark-based Ørsted, wants to bring 1,100 megawatts of electricity onshore from a wind farm in the Atlantic Ocean using a transmission line that would run through Ocean City, New Jersey.

That is not sitting well with some people in and around the small, but well-known Jersey Shore community, where many families across the Philadelphia region visit in the summer. Look no further than Kate Winslet’s detective from “Mare of Easttown” for proof of Ocean City’s popularity.

Still, it’s becoming increasingly likely that Ørsted’s Ocean Wind 1 project about 15-20 miles off Atlantic and Cape May counties will connect to the region’s power grid with an underground transmission line that comes onshore at an Ocean City beach. It would then run through the community to a decommissioned coal power plant in nearby Upper Township.

Read the full story at NBC Philadelphia

 

MARYLAND: Wind reps, Ocean City fisherman still far apart

December 23, 2021 — Offshore wind energy continues to press ahead, and while those companies that intend to erect scores of turbines off the Ocean City coast continue to work on strengthening their ties within the maritime community, chasms remain between their interests and those of commercial and recreational fishermen.

Last week, representatives from US Wind — Director of External Affairs Nancy Sopko, Director of Marine Affairs Ben Cooper and Fisheries Liaison Ron Larsen — briefed the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council on their progress in the area and their discussions with fishermen.

The trio discussed their current project, “MarWin,” and also a new one, Momentum Wind, which received the go-ahead from the state of Maryland earlier this week in the form of 808.5 offshore renewable energy credits, according to a US Wind press release. The project will add 55 turbines to the company’s Maryland lease area.

Larsen demonstrated to the council that one concern — that maneuvering through a wind farm would put an added burden on fishermen — wasn’t as bad as it seems. It’s an added transit of anywhere from roughly 0.2 to 0.5 nautical miles, he said.

Read the full story at Ocean City Today

Ocean City Residents, Officials Air Concerns About Offshore Wind

November 9, 2021 — The proposed offshore wind project along New Jersey’s southern coast drew a mix of support and opposition from residents and officials during an open house in Ocean City on Saturday morning.

The Danish energy company, Ørsted, plans to construct 99 wind turbines about 15 miles off the coast from Atlantic City to Cape May. Ørsted expects the wind farm to be operational by 2024 and capable of powering half a million homes.

The wind project is part of New Jersey’s goal of achieving 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind by 2035 and 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

A panel of Ørsted representatives fielded questions on Saturday about the wind farm’s potential impact on Cape May County’s tourism and the commercial fishing industry during a nearly three-hour forum.

“We believe in coexistence with a wide range of industries. We think that we can all productively exist,” said Maddy Urbish, Ørsted’s head of Government Affairs & Policy for New Jersey. “When it comes to tourism, Ocean Wind, PSEG and Ørsted — we really want to be good community partners.” Urbish noted that in previous projects, Ørsted has not seen an impact on tourism.

Read the full story at Patch.com

 

NEW JERSEY: Ørsted To Address Offshore Wind Farm Concerns In Ocean City

October 15, 2021 — A planned offshore wind farm off New Jersey’s southern coast will be the topic of discussion during a town hall meeting on Nov. 6 at the Ocean City Music Pier.

Ørsted plans to construct 99 wind turbines about 15 miles off the coast from Atlantic City to Cape May. Ørsted expects the wind farm to be operational by 2024, and capable of powering half a million homes.

The wind farm has drawn opposition from several southern coastal communities, citing environmental concern for marine life and its impact on fishing and tourism industries.

Ørsted’s open house will update residents of Ocean City and other communities on the status of the offshore wind farm. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m., with the program beginning at 10 a.m. and running until approximately 1 p.m.

Read the full story at Patch

 

Landmark bid would expand Ocean City offshore wind energy

July 15, 2021 — Ørsted, a Denmark-based company, has announced its plans to expand the Delmarva Peninsula’s wind energy operations in a bid submitted July 7 to the Maryland Public Service Commission.

The Skipjack Wind 2 site is slated to produce 760 megawatts of energy, which could power 250,000 homes in the region. The project would add to an already robust wind energy portfolio for the company that is already the largest in the nation.

 “Ørsted is privileged to already be a long-term partner to the state of Maryland as it works to meet its offshore wind goals,” David Hardy, CEO of Ørsted Offshore North America, said in a released statement.

According to a company spokesperson, the next step in the process is holding meetings with community stakeholders in both Maryland and Delaware to discuss the timeline and details of the project.

Read the full story at Delaware Online

Wind power expansion in Maryland would power more than 250,000 Delmarva homes, per Ørsted

July 8, 2021 — The developer of a wind farm near Ocean City says it has submitted a bid to the Maryland Public Service Commission for a new Round 2 offshore wind project.

Ørsted said in a release that its Skipjack Wind 2 project for up to 760 megawatts will power more than  250,000 Delmarva homes.

It said the bid is in response to the Maryland commission’s call for proposals for Round 2 offshore wind projects, through which the commission can award at least 1,200 megawatts of Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credits.

Ørsted is currently developing Skipjack Wind 1, a 120-megawatt offshore wind farm off the coast of Ocean City.

Read the full story at the Salisbury Daily Times

NEW JERSEY: Ocean City Residents Protest Ørsted’s Offshore Wind Farm

April 29, 2021 — Ocean City residents concerned about the environmental impact of Ørsted’s proposed offshore wind farm held a peaceful protest Tuesday outside of the Cape May County Administration Building in Cape May Court House.

Ørsted plans to install up to 98 turbines offshore about 15 miles southeast of Atlantic City, but the wind farm continues to draw opposition from New Jersey’s southern coastal communities.

Several of the residents who attended the protest came out in support of Save Our Shoreline NJ, a Facebook group with nearly 4,000 members. The administrators of Save Our Shoreline NJ have launched a website and a petition against the proposed wind farm, citing environmental and financial concerns.

Read the full story at Patch.com

Ørsted announces another delay to Skipjack Wind Farm near Ocean City

March 1, 2021 — A proposed offshore wind farm off the coast of Ocean City has been delayed again, according a statement from the company planning the project.

Ørsted announced Friday its expected completion date for its Skipjack Wind Farm has been delayed to sometime in mid-2026. Friday’s announcement was the second delay by Ørsted is the last two years.

The Skipjack Wind Farm is one of two offshore wind farms currently in development. Both wind farms are slated to sit at least 10 miles from the Ocean City beach, with the Skipjack project residing further north toward the Delaware state line than the MarWin Wind Farm being planned by U.S. Wind.

Ørsted officials informed state regulators with the Maryland Public Service Commission about the delay on Thursday, but didn’t specify what’s causing the postponement.

Read the full story at Delmarva Now

Orsted announces Skipjack Wind Farm project may be delayed again

November 10, 2020 — The completion of one of two proposed wind farms off the coast of Ocean City may be delayed for the second time this year, according to the company in charge of the project.

The completion of the Skipjack Wind Farm, which is being built by Ørsted, is facing another delay, according to comments by Ørsted CEO Henrik Poulsen last week.

“Assuming the permitting process starts moving within the first quarter of next year, it appears highly likely that Revolution Wind, Ocean Wind, Skipjack and Sunrise Wind will be delayed beyond the previously expected 2023 and 2024 construction years,” said Poulsen during a call with investors on Oct. 28.

The Skipjack Wind Farm is a proposed offshore wind project currently in the planning and regulatory review process. The project is slated to be more than 19 miles off the coast of Ocean City and the Delaware coast, and was originally expected to be completed in 2022.

Read the full story at Delmarva Now