Offshore Wind Cable Work To Begin Soon In Ocean City

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Work on the Ocean Wind 1 offshore wind project is moving forward starting on Sept. 11, when developer Orsted will start drilling test holes along 35th Street in Ocean City.

The developers had hoped to complete this work, which they say is necessary to further the project's completion, back in spring but city officials refused to grant a permit.

Ultimately, Ocean City was forced to allow the road opening work to begin by a judge. Read more: Ocean City Must Issue Permits For Offshore Wind, Judge Rules

The drilling is for the installation of an underground cable that will link the turbines to the onshore power grid.

The day before the work is set to begin, Sept. 10, anti-wind group Protect Our Coast NJ announced they will be holding a press conference and walk along the cable path on 35th Street, according to a news release.

"Near shore industrial wind development is reckless, as is the placement of electrified cables carrying up to 1.1 gigawatts of electricity so close to homes and families living in Ocean City," the group said.

Protect Our Coast NJ said the agreed with what Mayor Jay Gillian said in his weekly update from Aug. 25.

"Our state leaders still have not heard from the BPU about what this is going to cost and what it’s going to deliver in return. Everybody in the entire state who pays an electric bill will be footing the bill," Gillian said at the time. "Everybody will pay more. We just have no idea how much. I think we can all agree that clean energy is a worthy goal, but proceeding so blindly and quickly with this project is reckless. "

Further Reading

Offshore Wind Easement Must Be Issued, Judge Tells Cape May County

Ocean City The First Battleground In National Offshore Wind Fight

'We Have Lost Our Way': Ocean City Mayor Slams Offshore Wind Approval