Republicans cheer cancellation of New Jersey offshore wind projects

Republicans are cheering the cancellation of two offshore wind farms that would have been built off the coast of New Jersey. 

The company Orsted announced Tuesday it was canceling its planned Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects, which would have generated electricity via wind in the Atlantic Ocean.

The move was met with cheers from the GOP, including former President Trump, who has been particularly critical of wind energy over the years.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the projects as “horrendous” and congratulated GOP Rep. Jeff Van Drew (N.J.) on their defeat.

“Congratulations to a truly great Congressman, Jeff Van Drew, for his perseverance and success in defeating the horrendous Orsted Ocean Wind One & Two projects, which were to be built off the coast of South Jersey. This monstrosity required massive government subsidies, and ultimately, just didn’t work,” Trump wrote.

The former president has often railed against wind energy, including by spouting unfounded claims it causes cancer.

Van Drew, a former Democrat, also was among those who celebrated the cancellation. He wrote in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, he was glad Orsted “has decided to pack up its offshore wind scam and leave South Jersey’s beautiful coasts alone.”

He called the move a “tremendous win for South Jersey residents, our fisherman, and the historic coastline of the Jersey shore.”

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) was also among those cheering the cancellation — saying he hoped other projects would similarly falter.

“Orsted’s decision was a first step in exposing the economic unsustainability and environmental dangerousness of ocean wind turbines … and Orsted’s pulling out of the deal may help slow and eventually halt similar projects off New Jersey’s coast,” Smith said in a statement.

The company cited supply chain challenges that led to delays in construction and rising interest rates as its reasons for canceling the projects. 

Orsted CEO Mads Nipper said in a statement the company still “firmly believe[s] the US needs offshore wind to achieve its carbon emissions reduction ambition.”

The projects had been supported by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D), who authorized a tax break for them earlier this year.

In a written statement, Murphy blasted the decision to walk away from the projects as “outrageous” and said it “calls into question the company’s credibility and competence.”

In New Jersey, the popularity of offshore wind has fallen in recent years according to Monmouth University polling, which found that just over half of New Jerseyans support it now, compared to more than three-quarters in 2019.

The Biden administration has embraced offshore wind as a method for combating climate change, saying it hopes that by 2030, the U.S. will generate enough offshore wind energy to power 10 million homes.