Another offshore wind project off the coast of New Jersey is facing significant challenges. Leading Light Wind, a major player in the offshore wind sector, has requested a pause from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, seeking a delay until late December for its ambitious plan to develop a wind farm near Long Beach Island. The reason? A critical shortage of turbine blade manufacturers.
The filing, submitted in July but only recently made public, reveals that Leading Light Wind is currently without a supplier for the essential turbine blades, a problem that has forced the company to request a suspension of the project until December 20. Wes Jacobs, the project director and vice president of Offshore Wind Development at Invenergy, one of the partners in the project, stated that the pause is necessary “in light of industry-wide shifts in market conditions.” Jacobs emphasized that the company needs more time to engage in discussions with the board and its supply chain partners.
Despite the setback, Jacobs maintained that Leading Light Wind remains committed to delivering the project and its significant economic and environmental benefits to New Jersey. Even during the requested pause, the company plans to continue with development activities, including an ongoing survey program and the preparation of its construction and operations plan.
The request for a pause has been met with both support and opposition. Opponents of offshore wind development in New Jersey, particularly vocal in their concerns, see the pause as validation of their skepticism. “Yet another offshore wind developer is finding out for themselves that building massive power installations in the ocean is a fool’s errand, especially off the coast of New Jersey,” said a spokesperson for Protect Our Coast NJ, an organization opposing the project. They hope Leading Light Wind will follow the example of Orsted, a Danish energy giant that abandoned two offshore wind farms planned for New Jersey nearly a year ago due to financial concerns.
Meanwhile, another project, Atlantic Shores, which has already received preliminary approval in New Jersey, is seeking to renegotiate its financial terms, adding further uncertainty to the state’s offshore wind ambitions. The recent disintegration of a wind turbine blade off Martha’s Vineyard, which washed ashore in July, has also intensified scrutiny from offshore wind opponents.
Leading Light Wind was one of two projects greenlit by the state utilities board in January. However, shortly after the approval, GE Vernova, a major turbine manufacturer, announced it would not provide the turbines needed for the project. Another manufacturer, Vestas, was found unsuitable, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, the only remaining option, significantly raised the price of its turbines in June. As a result, Invenergy, the Chicago-based developer behind Leading Light Wind, is currently without a viable supplier for its turbines.
The project’s future remains uncertain as it navigates this turbulent period. The offshore wind farm, if built, would consist of up to 100 turbines located 40 miles off Long Beach Island and has the potential to power a million homes. However, it faces significant hurdles amid growing opposition and the complexities of the supply chain.
Despite these challenges, New Jersey remains determined to become the East Coast hub for offshore wind, even establishing a facility in the southern part of the state to manufacture wind turbine components. But with projects like Leading Light encountering such headwinds, the path forward appears increasingly uncertain.
Source:ABC
