Ocean City Continues Offshore Wind Fight, Despite Orsted Backing Out

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Danish developer Orsted announced on Oct. 31 that they would be abandoning the Ocean Wind 1 and 2 offshore wind projects, marking a victory for anti-wind activists.

At the latest City Council meeting, Ocean City officials unanimously approved the hiring of Atlantic City law firm Cooper Levinson to represent the city in their appeal against the Board of Public Utilities' previous approval of an easement and permits allowing offshore wind developers to construct an underground transmission line that would cross through environmentally sensitive lands. Read more: Controversial Offshore Wind Transmission Line Approved In Ocean City

This transmission line would make landfall onshore at 35th Street, heading west to Bay Avenue and then north to Roosevelt Boulevard, crossing Peck's Bay at the bridge and continuing onto Route 9 to the proposed substation near BL England.

Business Administrator George Savastano told OCNJ Daily that the city was continuing the fight because the appeal is still active in court, and also because another company could come in and try to revive Ocean Wind 1.

Just because Orsted pulled out doesn't mean another developer won't take over, Savastano told the outlet.

Ocean City is challenging the BPU's authority in granting the easement and saying that a better alternative was never properly examined.

The BPU used an amendment to New Jersey's offshore wind law removing most local control over where offshore wind projects come ashore to approve the line, according to the Associated Press. This law allows offshore wind developers to apply to the BPU to supersede local control over projects.

Orsted said that the decision to abandon the projects was made because of supply chain delays that further delayed the project - Ocean Wind 1 was originally supposed to begin operation in 2025 but it was delayed until 2026 earlier this year.

Just before the announcement, Ocean City hired another attorney to argue against the stripping of home rule.

According to a resolution, the contract with Cooper Levinson is estimated at $40,000 annually.

Further Reading

'Outrageous': Murphy Slams Offshore Wind Abandonment In NJ

After Dropping NJ Offshore Wind Farms, Orsted Wants Out Of $300M Deal

Cape May County, More Sue Feds Over Offshore Wind Approval