Trump victory makes future of offshore wind projects in New Jersey uncertain
President-elect Donald Trump previously said he would make it a priority to end offshore wind projects in the United States.
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With just over two months until President-Elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, what does that mean for the future of offshore wind in New Jersey?
Trump addressed the issue of offshore wind while addressing a large crowd of supporters at a rally in Wildwood this past May.
“We’re going to make sure that ends on Day 1. I am going to write it out in an executive order,” Trump said.
With Trump’s victory in the 20204 election, a lot of eyes now shift back to the horizon off the Jersey Shore.
“I think Trump’s at least questioning it and it did bring people out to further the conversation,” said Patrick O’Keefe, of Sea Girt. “I think if you don’t have federal support of it, it does make it difficult.”
Sea Girt Mayor Don Fetzer believes offshore wind helped bring voters to the polls last week.
“I think there was a referendum here and I think a large part of the votes we received were because of this,” said Fetzer. “I think this will give us an opportunity to tap the brake a little bit and see where we end up.”
Following Trump’s win, Gov. Phil Murphy’s tone abruptly shifted on the future of offshore wind.
“Offshore wind is going to be interesting. Again, is he going to do what he said versus prosecute a different agenda? One of the realities of winning the U.S. House and Senate is you get to put through your team with very little pushback,” Murphy said last week while addressing the media the day after the election.
When asked if Trump could put an end to offshore wind, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Board of Public Utilities told News 12 in a joint statement, “Governor Murphy remains committed to building an offshore wind industry in New Jersey to create good paying jobs and combat climate change. We look forward to discussing the benefits of this industry with the incoming Administration so that we can create as much American-made energy as possible.”
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind team also issued a statement.
"The Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind team congratulates President-Elect Trump, and we look forward to working with the Trump-Vance administration to bring good-paying family-sustaining American union jobs and economic opportunities to the Garden State. New Jersey residents need safe, affordable, and reliable in-state power generation and Atlantic Shores is ready to increase our energy independence while creating American jobs, bringing down costs, and driving economic growth.”
