Saving Seafood

NEW JERSEY: Wind farm developer said project will continue despite loss of major investor

January 31, 2025 — The developer behind a major New Jersey offshore wind farm said it will continue with the project even after its partner said Thursday it is withdrawing and writing off $1 billion in losses.

Atlantic Shores was in a 50-50 partnership with Shell New Energies to develop a combined 4,310 megawatts of offshore wind capacity in two areas roughly 8.4 miles off New Jersey’s coast. Shell said Thursday it is ending its involvement in the project.

“While we can’t comment on the views of shareholders, Atlantic Shores intends to continue progressing New Jersey’s first offshore wind project and our portfolio in compliance with our obligations to local, state and federal partners under existing leases and relevant permits,” Atlantic Shores said in a statement.

Read the full article at the New Jersey Monitor

Vineyard Wind must replace Canada-made turbine blades with blades made in France

January 30, 2025 — Vineyard Wind 1 is once again turning wind into electricity, even as its developer works to meet a federal mandate requiring the removal of turbine blades made at the Canadian factory where the faulty blade that collapsed last summer was produced.

Company spokesman Craig Gilvarg confirmed that one turbine is back in operation, capable of producing about 13.6 megawatts when running at full capacity.

“Vineyard Wind 1 is delivering power from one turbine, which has met the project’s stringent safety and operational conditions,” he said.

Recently, the federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement fully lifted the suspension order it had placed on the project following the July 13 blade collapse at wind turbine generator AW-38 that sent debris crashing into the ocean. The action comes a little more than a month after the agency permitted installation of the first three turbine blades since the incident.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Jan. 17 also approved a revised construction and operations plan with conditions for Vineyard Wind 1, which will produce 800 megawatts of energy from 62 turbines when completed.

A root-cause analysis of the blade failure conducted by the manufacturer and installer, GE Vernova, found that the collapse was the result of a “manufacturing deviation” at the factory in Gaspé, Canada — specifically, failed bonding of materials. Although the bureau is continuing its own investigation, the revised plan acknowledges manufacturing errors in calling for Vineyard Wind to remove all Canadian-made blades installed on up to 22 turbine generators prior to the July 13 failure.

Read the full article at Cape Cod Times

US offshore wind farms in service, in construction and under development

January 27, 2025 — U.S. President Donald Trump suspended new federal offshore wind leasing on his first day back in the Oval Office on Jan. 20, pending an environmental and economic review.

On the same day, Danish energy company Orsted,  the world’s biggest offshore wind firm, posted another impairment charge on delays to a U.S. offshore project.

Those are just the latest blows for the offshore wind industry that former President Joe Biden and several states considered key to meeting federal and state clean energy targets.

In California, where offshore wind is in early stages of development, Adam Stern, Executive Director of Offshore Wind California, an industry trade group, said most of the work was happening at the state level.

Read the full article at Reuters

MASSACHUSETTS: The future for New Bedford scallopers: ‘Tough year ahead’

January 27, 2025 — Federal regulations, the new Trump Administration, the economy, climate, and offshore wind all play a part in the livelihood of South Coast scallopers and the most lucrative port in the nation. Watch the full Chat here to learn more.

Offshore Wind Farms: A Growing Concern

The panel highlighted concerns over offshore wind development, with many citing its impact on scallop habitats. The recent moratorium on new offshore wind leases and reviews of existing projects was welcomed by the panel.

“Wind farms change currents,” said Eric Hansen. “All scallop larvae, when they’re first born, are floating in the currents. It’s gonna change where they settle. It’s gonna change where the predators are because you change the environment.”

Tony Alvernaz expressed skepticism about whether turbines could ever be removed completely. “Even if they were to be decommissioned, decommissioning them basically means cutting them off at 15 feet above the ground,” he explained. “The rocks around them are there forever, and it’s a dead zone for fishing pretty much.”

Jim Kendall shared his experiences working with Vineyard Wind, noting that the company made efforts to engage with local fishermen. However, he contrasted this with other companies that have not shown the same level of respect or concern for the fishing industry.

Declining Scallop Stocks

Scallop landings have declined significantly, with Hansen reporting that total landings are expected to be 15–18 million pounds this year, down from the 40–60 million pounds typically landed in previous years.

“The total landing is going to be down even with the increased days of sea fishing going from 20 to 24,” Hansen said. “The catch per day is down so much we would need 30 or 40 days to catch what we used to catch in 20.”

Surveys have shown high numbers of juvenile scallops, which could lead to a recovery in the future. “If they all survive and grow, we are looking to rebound in a couple of years,” Hansen said, adding that the fishery could recover by 2027.

Northern Edge Closure Frustrates Fishermen

The Northern Edge of Georges Bank, a scallop-rich area, has been closed to fishing for decades, a decision that continues to frustrate many in the industry. The area was designated as a habitat area of particular concern (HAPC) for groundfish spawning, but fishermen argue that there is little evidence to justify the closure.

“The surveys that we’ve done hardly show any fish up there,” said Alvernaz. “The justification is insane.”

Hansen explained that the closure was tied to protecting cobble and gravel habitat thought to be important for codfish spawning. However, he acknowledged that the science on codfish presence in the area is limited.

Economic Pressures on Scallopers

Alvernaz detailed the rising costs of operating scallop boats, including higher prices for gear, fuel, and maintenance. “It cost me $60,000 last year to paint one boat,” he said. “And with quotas down, it’s foolish to run boats for such little return.”

The panel discussed potential solutions, including allowing multiple permits on a single boat, which would reduce inefficiencies. “It cost me $60,000 last year just to paint one boat,” Alvernaz reiterated, adding that operating at current quota levels is becoming unsustainable.

Japanese Scallops and Market Pressure

The panel also touched on the impact of Japanese scallop imports, which have introduced significant competition for smaller scallops in the U.S. market. Hansen noted that Japanese scallops are priced at around $12 per pound, making it difficult for American fishermen to compete.

“The 25 to 30 per pound scallops from Japan are driving the price down for our smaller scallops,” Hansen said.

Offshore Wind and the Need for Studies

The panel emphasized the importance of scientific research to assess the impact of offshore wind farms on the scallop fishery. Hansen stressed the need for baseline studies to document the state of the environment before more wind projects are developed.

“For a baseline study, you need five to ten years of data,” Hansen said. “We’re late in getting the data to judge impacts.”

Alvernaz added that scallop larvae can attach to structures like turbines, which may create changes in where scallops settle over time.

Looking Ahead

The panelists concluded by expressing the need for continued dialogue and action to address these challenges. “We’ve been through tough times before,” said Kendall, “and we’ll get through this too.”

As the scallop industry faces an uncertain future, fishermen, scientists, and policymakers will need to collaborate to find solutions that protect livelihoods and ensure the sustainability of the fishery.

Watch the full chat at The New Bedford Light

VIRGINIA: Virginia Beach wind farm spared from Trump order, but future projects could be slowed, experts say

January 27, 2025 — President Donald Trump used his first day in office to slam the brakes on the renewable energy industry, issuing an executive order to temporarily halt federal leasing, permitting and approval of both onshore and offshore wind energy projects.

But a Virginia Beach wind farm already under construction will be spared the immediate effects of the order, said environmental experts and Dominion Energy officials. Still, the experts say other Dominion projects could be delayed.

“It will have an effect on any future leases,” said Eileen Woll, offshore energy program director for the Sierra Club’s Virginia chapter.

Under the Monday executive order, the Trump administration will pause all offshore wind leases in federal waters, in addition to halting permitting and approvals for any wind project, both offshore or onshore. The order notes that, “Nothing in this withdrawal affects rights under existing leases in the withdrawn areas.” That includes the 2.6-gigawatt Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project, which began construction off the coast of Virginia Beach last year.

Read the full article at The Daily Progress

MAINE: Maine Democrat backs partial offshore wind ban

January 24, 2025 — Maine Democrat Jared Golden reintroduced a bill to ban offshore wind in a lobster fishing zone in his state, bucking other Democrats who are seeing red on President Donald Trump’s blanket ban on new wind power leases.

The bill, dubbed the “Northern Fisheries Heritage Protection Act of 2025” would block offshore wind development in Lobster Management Area 1, a fishing area that runs from the Canadian border to the north shore of Cape Cod. Golden introduced the bill with Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-N.J.), who has become one of the most vocal offshore wind opponents in Congress.

Golden said the development of offshore wind in the fishing area threatens the viability of lobster fishing — a bedrock industry for his state.

Read the full article at E&E News

Can Trump really shut down the offshore wind industry?

January 24, 2025 — President Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to shut down the offshore wind industry. Before he even took office, the region saw an impact. Last Friday, a company announced it was abandoning plans to build a factory in Somerset that would’ve supplied undersea cables to American offshore wind farms.

Then, on Monday, during his first day in office, Trump issued an executive order on offshore wind, declaring that his administration wouldn’t permit any new offshore wind farms.

But what does Trump’s executive order mean for the dozens of offshore wind farms that were already under development? Attorney Drew Minciewicz of Black Point Maritime Law discusses that question with The Public’s Radio South Coast Bureau Reporter Ben Berke.

Read the full article at The Public Radio

NEW JERSY: NJ Offshore Wind Farm ‘Hopefully Dead And Gone,’ Trump Says

January 24, 2025 — President Donald Trump is hopeful that the Atlantic Shores South offshore wind farm is “dead and gone” following his executive order that has temporarily halted leasing and permitting for wind farm projects in the country.

“Hopefully the project is dead and gone, as almost all unsightly and environmentally unsound Windmill project should be,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post thanking Rep. Jeff Van Drew for his fighting against the wind farm, which is set to be constructed between Atlantic City and Long Beach Island.

However, Atlantic Shores South already received federal approvals this past October. It’s not yet clear how the executive order will impact the project and it is likely to be challenged in court. A company spokesperson declined to comment.

Read the full article at Patch

‘Relief’ for some, ‘dark moment’ for others: Communities react to Trump’s offshore wind order

January 23, 2025 — Amid a flurry of executive actions on his first day in office, President Donald Trump sought to put the brakes on offshore wind, halting the federal permitting of wind farms and wind-energy leasing of the Outer Continental Shelf.

On Cape Cod and the South Coast, where offshore wind is becoming part of the local economy, supporters and opponents are talking about what the order will mean.

New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell said the city’s position — supporting and courting offshore wind, but also challenging wind-farm locations fishermen view as unacceptable — has been informed by a desire to create jobs in New Bedford. And those jobs could be in jeopardy.

“If this goes as far as it conceivably could, this order — there will be some people who’ll lose their jobs,” he said.

But the mayor of Vineyard Wind’s primary construction port doesn’t oppose every piece of Trump’s order.

Mitchell said some of the lease areas off New York and the Mid-Atlantic warrant review because of their conflicts with commercial fishing.

Read the full article at nhpr

VIRGINIA: What does Trump’s pause on offshore wind mean for Virginia?

January 23, 2025 — One of President Trump’s first executive orders halted all new federal leases and permits for offshore wind projects.

Hampton Roads has bet big on the offshore wind industry.

Dominion Energy is building the nation’s largest offshore wind farm 27 miles off the Virginia Beach Oceanfront, and has two more leases waiting in the wings.

Local economic development officials have also worked hard to attract related businesses to make southeastern Virginia an offshore wind hub, including a South Korean manufacturer of undersea electrical cables.

President Donald Trump’s administration now threatens to put up a roadblock to further growing Virginia’s industry.

“We are going to have a policy where no windmills are being built,” Trump said recently.

On his first day in office this week, Trump signed an executive order that temporarily halts all new federal leases and permits for wind energy.

Read the full article at WHRO