New Jersey offshore wind project faces another delay

A New Jersey offshore wind project is requesting a second delay on its plans to develop a wind farm, citing ongoing difficulties in securing a manufacturer for key turbine components.

Why It Matters

Leading Light Wind, an American-founded initiative, requested a pause from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on its plans to develop a wind farm off Long Beach Island.

This is not the first delay the project has faced as a similar situation was reported in September. Critics of offshore wind projects have pointed to the latest delay request as further evidence of the industry's economic challenges, particularly as President-elect Donald Trump, a vocal opponent of offshore wind, prepares to return to the White House.

What To Know

Leading Light Wind previously secured a delay from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, which recognized the project's challenges in finding a manufacturer for the turbine blades needed to generate electricity.

The initial pause expired on December 20, but a day earlier, Leading Light Wind requested an extension from the board, seeking to push the deadline to May 20.

While the company did not explicitly cite difficulties in securing a blade manufacturer for the second delay, its latest request pointed to ongoing challenges in the offshore wind equipment market.

"The offshore wind equipment market continues to experience significant price volatility, and the company has not yet identified a solution to that volatility," the request said.

The company did not respond to questions from The Associated Press on Monday and Tuesday regarding whether the search for a blade manufacturer is central to its latest delay request.

Offshore Wind Projects

The project, a collaboration between Chicago-based Invenergy and New York-based energyRE, aims to construct up to 100 turbines roughly 40 miles off Long Beach Island, with the capacity to power one million homes.

Leading Light was among two offshore wind projects selected by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in January 2024. However, just three weeks later, GE Vernova, one of the three major turbine manufacturers, announced it would not produce the type of turbine planned for the project, according to a public filing.

Invenergy stated that a turbine model from Vestas was deemed incompatible with the project, while Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, the remaining manufacturer, informed the company in June of a price hike for its turbines.

Invenergy emphasized its commitment to the project, noting it has already invested millions of dollars. The company is also obligated to contribute $105 million toward the construction of a monopile manufacturing facility in Paulsboro, which will produce the tower-like foundations for the wind turbines.

What People Are Saying

In a statement, Wes Jacobs, the project director said: "This additional time will allow us to continue to navigate ongoing market shifts and supply chain challenges, as we work to advance development of this important project for New Jersey."

Protect Our Coast NJ issued a statement saying: "We can only draw one logical conclusion: the Trump administration threatens the lifeblood of the offshore wind industry, namely, large government subsidies and less regulation."

What's Next

The board has not provided a timeline for when it will review the request.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.