New Jersey's Cape May County opposes Ørsted's offshore wind plans

May 26 (Renewables Now) - New Jersey’s Cape May County Board of County Commissioners have passed a resolution that outlines vehement opposition to Ørsted A/S’ (CPH:ORSTED) Ocean Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind projects and launched a campaign presenting their concerns to the wider community.

The resolution, issued on Tuesday, seeks to inform the public about the county’s efforts to engage with the Danish developer in order to find common ground and mitigate some of the negative impacts of the proposed developments. Among the major concerns are the future wind turbines’ visibility from the shore and the subsequent negative effect on tourism, as well as potential harm to the environment.

In its press statement on Thursday, the County said it had approached Ørsted with its concerns but faced no interest from the developer in finding a compromise. The County noted it has appealed the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ decision to authorise the state permit applications for the Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects.

Last week, the US BOEM issued the final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the 1.1-GW Ocean Wind 1 project, which is due to be commissioned in 2025. The 1.1-GW Ocean Wind 2 is planned to enter construction in 2028.