Citing inflation and unforeseen costs, wind turbine companies Atlantic Shore and Orsted could be asking for additional taxpayer funds to build massive wind farm off the coast of South Jersey.
This comes as Siemens Energy, a turbine manufacturer, admits that components in their wind turbines are wearing out faster than expected. Technical problems were ‘worse than previously thought’.
Siemens Energy is one of the largest wind turbine makers in the world.
Siemens Energy shares dived over 37% on Friday, June 23, after the company stopped profit forecasting. Siemens warned that costly problems at their wind turbine unit could last for years. Higher costs due to failure rates of wind turbine components, challenges in ramping up offshore wind capacity.
Imagine how these turbines would deteriorate in a salt water environment.
Wind lobbyists now asking federal and state lawmakers for even more taxpayer funding or new laws to guarantee ability to raise future electric rates.
Bipartisan group of lawmakers privately expressing doubts about the project.
Three local NJ orgs joining forces. Aggressive legal action underway to stop construction of a massive wind farm off the Jersey coastline.
Lawsuit was recently filed last on behalf of Save LBI, Defend Brigantine Beach, and Protect OurCoast NJ.
According to Bruce Afran, attorney representing all 3 groups: The NJ DEP acknowledges that the project would “destroy marine habitat, compress the seafloor, severely damage marine communities,” and cause other adverse effects.
Wind farms will feature hundreds of wind turbines in a lease area off Atlantic and Cape May counties. The turbines will reach over 900 feet in height.
Approximately $900k of taxpayer funds have already been paid to Danish energy company, ORSTED, but they want more. ORSTED currently in Trenton asking for additional money for this experimental wind project.
Bill A5651 goes before the Assembly budget committee on Tuesday, June 27, 2023.
Make your voice heard. Tell them NO more money to foreign wind companies.
- Assemblywoman Marin (973) 589-0713 aswpintomarin@njleg.org
- Senator Sarlo (201) 804-8188 sensarlo@njleg.org
To learn more: go to Defend Brigantine Beach.
Social Media comment: Windpower is a scam built on NJ taxpayer funded subsidies. Trenton duped the ignorant & gullible. Governor of NJ used emergency powers and executive orders under cover of the lock downs.
Thank goodness oil and gas extraction and production is so safe, huh? Ask the folks off the coast of Louisiana and Alaska… tens of of millions of fish, waterfowl and how many whales harmed directly or indirectly from spills, leaks and fires. And 1,600 people killed directly in the last decade. Never let the panic over what wind MIGHT cause get in the way or facts. Or spin.
Good point, but bring up disturbance of marine life from wind farms. Then, consider advantages and disadvantages.
Ability to address catastrophic events (clean up) and the duration of the damage – done and ongoing.
We allow these lunatics to destroy our way of life? we do nothing about it.
If Siemens is so sure about their technology, let them pay for it without demanding money from the already overly burdened taxpayer.
Why should we be involved in something that we can only take the word of the government (yeah right) and a private company that is making surely large profit off of our tax dollars, with what risk to them.
This is a company who didn’t foresee huge deterioration problems on a metal edifice directly situation in a salty ocean with constant windswept salt and rainwater, Whaaat????
Trust this current government? Follow the money trail.
People with beachfront homes up in roar about parking near their houses or having a cigarette on the beach. Have fun living next to a refinery in the ocean.
These wind turbines seem to have more negatives than positives and should not be built.
Seems like the maintenance cost itself will be astronomical over time. The salt water corrosion is challenging. In the end, all of those costs will be passed onto customers of the energy.
Cargo ships that sail the seas every day of the year for years on end have a lifespan of 25-30 years or so, and they are made of metal. On top of that, no one seems to question the lifespan of all of those metal oil rigs off of the Gulf and West Coasts.
Why are windmills so different? I guess the reason is that they will ruin our view, and nothing else.
Then again, if a windmill falls over in a storm we have some big parts to clean up, whereas if an oil rig falls over then we can have a major oil spill (hello BP!!), with a much bigger problem on our hands.
Will this venture be expensive in the early years? Probably. But name a new technology that can benefit millions of citizens that doesn’t have an initial cost that is perceived as being too costly.
Building all of the highways, bridges, railroads, dams, etc. are all costly projects, but everyone of us benefits from those investments.
All of us reading this will not see the long term effects of climate change, but what world do we leave to our children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren?
Soon enough the nine or more miles to the closest windmill will be much greater if the predictions about sea level rise are even remotely close, so the view will be the least of our concerns.
You make some good points.
At he end the day, it sounds like these wind mills should be on land and not on water as studies elsewhere have shown negative effects when on water which outweigh the positive effects.
Still believe if one follows the money, one will learn who is really behind this and making money from it.
I am not much of a global warming fan. Think it is more of a ruse to make money.
I do think they have built way too many houses on those beach islands and one day a big storm will decide if that was a good idea or not…
@Joe – I don’t think oil rigs or wind turbines should be ocean based. Start with federal or state owned land and build out the infrastructure. In that sense, maintenance and lessons learned can ensure knowledge when applied elsewhere, if necessary.
Going directly with an ocean option is not necessary to achieve the same results. They have a few wind land based turbines in AC. It’s all about producing energy and the least amount of burden on people.
P.S. Yes, the view is another issue.
Remember, a lot of tax comes in from shore towns. That should be factored into the calculation on a risk based assessment.
If you care to voice your feelings:
Dear Senator and Representative,
We urge you to vote NO on senate bill S4019 and assembly bill a5651.
The proposed offshore wind projects are causing severe environmental damage, with no end in sight. What’s worse, the economic costs are skyrocketing, particularly affecting lower income and blue-collar workers.
We must carefully consider the consequences and costs imposed on the very people it claims to help. Offshore wind is no exception and should not receive preferential treatment.
Moreover, the foreign industrial energy developers behind these projects should not be given a second chance after underestimating the construction and maintenance costs of the power generation facilities off New Jersey’s coastline.
Now is the time to show your constituents that our coastal ecosystems, shore communities, and hard-earned money cannot be sacrificed for the greed of lobbyists and ocean-based power plants.
Vote NO on S4019 and A5651 to protect our interests!
Sincerely
Name,
address/NJ county
How many politicians over the years claim that they will or so and so program will benefit lower income or blue collar workers or the middle class. It rarely does.
Usually makes things worse.
Case in point:
Any new cell phone towers being built near new or redone roads that were suppose to be built from that last round of that 1 trillion dollar federal infrastructure bill that was suppose to benefit South Jersey?
The wind-cultists don’t weigh the pros and cons objectively. The destruction of views will affect tourism, which comes from all over.
Jobs will be lost, and seasonally dependent businesses will decline.
Just like the dunes, we will be stuck with the intense upkeep costs.
The cost of electricity will go up and the foreign energy company will make profit to our detriment.
“Destruction of views” … 8-10 miles away. Affects tourism? Mommy, I don’t want to go to the beach because there is a windmill so far out in the haze and mist you can’t even see it on most days.
Do you actually believe the garbage you claim? And then you have the irony to call others cultists. Laughable.
Here’s a thought: MOVE.
I think you are missing the more important, bigger point that these wind mills are not worth the aggravation.
Damage to marine life for starters and customers paying more and more for electricity to offset the increased costs to maintain these wind mills after a few years.
The poor beach view may be the least of the problems that these wind mills cause.
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill Thursday giving a tax break to Danish offshore wind developer Ørsted for the first of two energy projects! We’re screwed.