The Garden State once dreamed of becoming a global leader in offshore wind electricity generation. Now its plans look dead in the water.
James M. O'Neill reports that New Jersey's ambitious plans to develop offshore wind energy appear to have stalled while nearby Rhode Island is taking the lead in this renewable energy market.
"The state Board of Public Utilities has repeatedly rejected a proposal by Fishermen’s Energy to build a small wind farm off the coast of Atlantic City as a pilot project. And five years after the Legislature directed it to do so, the board has yet to complete an essential funding mechanism for offshore wind projects that would guarantee a buyer for the energy they produce."
The article goes on to speculate that New Jersey Governor Chris, once a strong proponent of a potential offshore wind industry for New Jersey, might have "soured on offshore wind because of his presidential ambitions — aware that key Republican financial donors, such as Charles and David Koch, favor the fossil fuel industry." A spokesperson for Gov. Christie recently defended his actions on affordable energy, however.
The article includes a lot more detail about the genesis of New Jersey's offshore wind ambitions as well as the political context that has slowed its momentum.
FULL STORY: N.J.’s push for offshore wind farms loses steam
Offshore Wind Power Projects Face Financial Headwind
As offshore wind projects along the East Coast stall, so do the country’s emissions reduction goals.
Proposed Offshore Wind Project Could Be the West Coast’s Largest
If approved, the plan to build a 2,000-megawatt facility off the coast of Washington State would be a milestone for floating offshore wind production in the United States.
Nation's Largest Offshore Wind Farm Gets Green Light From New Jersey
There are still approvals necessary to get to the finish line, but the Ocean Wind offshore wind project took a big step forward late last week.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie