By MADDY VITALE
A day after the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities allowed Danish energy company Orsted to run a transmission line through Ocean City to connect an offshore wind farm to an onshore power grid, the public had their say.
In two separate Zoom meetings, one in the morning on Thursday and the other in the evening, the BPU heard from the parties that would be affected, Ocean City, Cape May County and other stakeholders.
They expressed concern that the line could disrupt an environmentally sensitive part of Ocean City on the 35th Street beaches. Ocean City and Cape May County officials have said there may be alternate routes, and it appears Orsted is simply trying to take the “fastest route” for the business, not caring of the persons concerned, the residents of Ocean Ville and department.
On Wednesday, the BPU granted easements and other permits related to what is called the Ocean Wind 1 project. Orsted filed his petition to bypass the city and county for approvals in June, after the parties failed to were unable to reach an agreement.
Ocean City Business Administrator George Savastano spoke at the hearing. He said Ocean Wind was “completely unaware” of the potential impact of crossing the line in part of the city.
“Ocean Wind completely ignores consideration for the most affected community, elected officials and their constituents,” Savastano said. “Ocean Wind’s failure to consider Ocean City and Cape May County and the route should come as a surprise to this board.”
Savastano said the BPU should refer the Ocean Wind petition to the Office of Administrative Law as a contested case for hearing and decision.
Some participants were in favor of the transmission line and the wind farm project, saying it would provide clean, renewable energy and create jobs.
But the majority of speakers at Thursday’s morning meeting strongly opposed the transmission line, the way the company seemed to be rushing without looking for alternatives, the way the BPU voted to approve the easements without first holding a public hearing and the overall potential impact of the wind farm project.
Savastano pointed to the fact that Ocean Wind “refused” to seek alternate routes.
“Ocean Wind should be required to disclose the cost of proposed routes,” he said, adding that it appears Ocean Wind is offering the most economical route.
He also said no decision should be made on the transmission line until an environmental impact analysis of the wind farm is completed.
Orsted’s proposal is to put 99 wind turbines in the ocean, 15 miles offshore from Atlantic City to Stone Harbor, passing through Ocean City in the process.
The wind farm is currently in the planning and permitting phase and is expected to be completed by 2024. Construction, if approved, would begin in 2024. Plans call for a 1,100 megawatt project that would create thousands of jobs in construction and would power more than 500,000 homes.
Madeline Urbish, spokesperson for Orsted, made a statement at the hearing
She spoke of Orsted’s plans to run a line under the streets of Ocean City and bring electricity ashore to Ocean City via a cable to connect offshore wind turbines to the power grid at the old power station. electric BL England in Marmora.
But Urbish stressed that the parties did not reach an agreement.
“Since 2019, the project has engaged in extensive outreach with Cape May County and made a formal offer with Cape May County,” Urbish said.
Urbish continued, “Discussions have continued through early 2022,” she said, adding that the county has not accepted approvals. “Therefore, the petition has been filed for the easements.”
She said Orsted thought the location of the transmission line through Ocean City was “reasonably necessary.”
“The board has jurisdiction. Ocean Wind would have preferred a voluntary agreement with Cape May County,” she said. “Hurry up.”
Mike Donohue, an attorney representing Cape May County, said the cost of the route should be revealed by Orsted and other routes should be considered.
Donohue said Orsted’s petition clearly sidelines Cape May County elected officials and some local officials, giving decision making on easements to the BPU, unelected officials.
“We believe Cape May County should stand up for self-reliance to ensure the people of Cape May County are taken care of,” he said.
He said that since residents of the county could have “an industrial facility on the horizon for 30 years” and impact the economy, culture, fisheries, migratory bird routes, among other problems, the internal regime should be taken into account when decisions are made. made.
Donohue noted that there are other possible paths that could be taken.
Attorney Paul Baldini, who is also the attorney for Sea Isle City, spoke on behalf of Sea Isle City, Dennis Township, Lower and Middle Townships, Avalon, Stone Harbor, North Wildwood, Wildwood and Wildwood Crest.
“Municipalities urge the BPU to take this matter to the Office of Administrative Law. Collectively, I represent the majority of Cape May County residents,” Baldini said. “Orsted’s failure to engage stakeholders, Ocean City and Cape May County is troubling.”
Critics said the project could harm the environment and marine life, fishing, create a visual blight of an “industrial park” on the horizon and harm tourism.
Ocean City resident Suzanne Hornick of Protect Our Coast NJ, a group fighting to stop the Ocean Wind 1 wind turbine project, said she was upset with the meeting and how it was handled on Wednesday. evening.
“I watched the meeting last night and the BPU gave their thumbs up, so why am I here? To run this cable through our island, through our playground and our beaches, is madness. Ocean City is a very small island, and the only thing we have to keep us afloat is tourism,” Hornick said.
She added that as a member of Protect Our Coast she was extremely upset.
Former Ocean City Council Vice President Michael DeVlieger has been one of the most vocal opponents of the wind farm project.
He expressed dismay at how the issue was voted on a day before the public could address the issue.
“The subject in question is whether the easement should be granted. Why are we talking about it when the board voted on it yesterday? That is rediculous. Why are you bothering? You can’t tell me there’s an honest effort here to hear from the public or understand the environmental impacts,” DeVlieger said.
He continued: “You have wind farm supporters talking about saving money and green energy. These are not the subjects at hand. The topics covered are easements. Considering how these hearings went, I guess I should thank you, because you open the door to a ton of appeals and litigation. But it’s just awful how blatantly dishonest it was.
A few stakeholders indicated that job creation was a major positive of the wind farm project and that they were not opposed to the transmission line. Others said it would be good for the environment.
Christina Renna, President and CEO of the Southern New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, said, “The Ocean Wind Project has everything in place to be successful, bringing great benefits to the Southern New Jersey workforce. Jersey and giving back to the community as a whole. Our Chamber supports the project.
Eric Ford said people needed to look at the overall positive impact of the project and how many jobs it could create.
“There is a great opportunity for New Jersey to lead in workforce development in this sector,” he said.
A meeting is being hosted by Orsted at the Flanders Hotel at 11th and Boardwalk on Monday, October 3 at 6 p.m. Ocean City residents and second home owners are strongly encouraged to attend this public hearing on the transmission line.
The public can email or write their comments on the easements to the BPU. The deadline for submission is October 12.
To submit a written comment to the BPU, write to Carmen Diaz, Acting Board Secretary, Public Services Board, 44 South Clinton Ave., 1st Floor, PO Box 350, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0350. Or send your comments by e-mail to board.secretary@bpu.nj.gov. You must include file number QO22050347 on your submission.
A transcript and the recording of Thursday’s hearings will be posted at: https://www.nj.gov/bpu/newsroom/public/