US: Wind energy, liquid gas projects move forward in New Jersey

Wind energy companies proposed projects off New Jersey's ocean coast Thursday, as an environmental group vowed to appeal approval of a hotly contested liquefied natural gas terminal on Delaware River. Orsted, European wind energy firm, said Thursday it has submitted a bid to build “Ocean Wind 2,” a wind farm that would generate 2,400 megawatts of electricity — more than twice amount of a separate project for which it alrey has been approved off coast of Atlantic City.

company's original 1,100-megawatt Ocean Wind project will produce power for half a million homes. In a statement, Orsted said Thursday's bid includes what it considers significant investments into New Jersey's offshore wind manufacturing capabilities, though it did t give dollar figures.

In September, New Jersey State Senate President Steve Sweeney and two or legislators asked state Board of Public Utilities to suspend approval of Orsted's original project off Atlantic City and to consider wher to replace company. y said Orsted has t delivered eugh ecomic benefits to state and local communities, which company disputed.

Also Thursday, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind proposed an offshore wind farm between Atlantic City and Barnegat Light capable of powering 1 million homes with up to 2,300 megawatts of electricity. It is a joint venture between EDF Renewables rth America and Shell New Energies US LLC.

deline for submitting project bids to BPU in latest round was 5 p.m. Thursday. At state's opposite coastline along Delaware River, environmental groups are smarting from a regional commission's Wednesday approval of a port to handle liquefied natural gas shipments in a section of Greenwich Township in Gloucester County at site of a former DuPont explosives plant.

Delaware River Basin Commission upheld its initial approval of plan, which was proposed by Delaware River Partners, a subsidiary of New Fortress Energy, to provide a transit point for liquefied natural gas by rail, truck and boat.Tracy Carluccio, a spokesperson for Delaware Riverkeeper, said Thursday environmental group will appeal decision in federal court. She said group, which challenged proposal in regulatory proceedings, did t receive a fair hearing.

She said project's impacts on water quality were t equately considered, including “ irreparable harm that will be done to rare habitat and species at this location, such as federally endangered Atlantic and Shortse sturgeon.” company did t respond to a request for comment Thursday.

Jeff Tittel, director of New Jersey Sierra Club, called ncy's approval of project “ worst decision commission has ever me.”He said project still needs permits from New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Coast Guard.

(Im Credit: AP)