Transforming New Jersey with Ocean Wind 1

An independent analysis by Rutgers University determined that there would be a rate increase of approximately $1.46 per household per month, or less than $18.00 per year. The estimated monthly electric bill impact for commercial rate customers is $13.05, and $110.10 for industrial rate customers.

These slight increases were approved, thanks to the economic and environmental benefits of the project for residents and the state. This was determined by a full analysis of Ocean Wind 1, which accounted for job creation and all new economic activity associated with the project.

We understand the importance of New Jersey’s shoreline to residents and visitors, and its booming tourism industry. We have mindfully planned our underground cables to limit impacts on tourism during construction. We are working cooperatively with state and federal regulators to ensure that our renewable energy assets operate in close proximity to one of New Jersey’s most precious resources.

Studies have already shown that offshore wind and tourism can not only coexist but thrive. The University of Rhode Island released a study that showed that tourism on Block Island, home to America’s first offshore wind farm, actually increased after the turbines were built.

Offshore wind farms are connected to the electrical grid using submarine transmission cables that are attached to offshore wind turbines. Energy passes through the cables to an offshore substation, and is then transported to shore via subsea cables. These cables run deep beneath the beach, remaining buried along the entire length of the coastal zone, avoiding impacts on sensitive habitats.

From there, the buried cable runs along existing roadways and rights of ways, alongside other utility infrastructure,  to an inland substation, where energy is delivered to the electrical grid.

We are committed to building offshore wind power sustainably, and we take great care to ensure that wind energy and wildlife can thrive side by side. Our biodiversity policy sets out the principles that underpin our efforts to protect the natural environment in the areas where we construct and operate offshore wind farms. 

We collaborate extensively with stakeholders to understand local considerations and sensitivities to potential offshore wind farm locations as we site the projects. We work to minimize impacts during construction and continuously monitor and mitigate potential impacts during the operational life of the wind farm. 

For Ocean Wind 1, we have extensively engaged with key environmental and marine stakeholders in and around New Jersey, and have planned our project to have minimal impacts. 

Offshore wind farms have a limited impact on marine mammals. While construction and installation activity do produce noise, Ørsted uses noise abatement and mitigation technologies to dampen noise   that would otherwise disturb underwater life. Protective measures are employed during all phases of offshore construction.

For example, during pre-construction, we perform high-resolution geophysical (HRG) surveys using equipment that operates at frequencies undetectable by marine mammals. Survey vessels travel at speeds no greater than 10 knots to reduce noise, and marine observers are always onboard to watch for underwater creatures.

More broadly, the offshore wind industry is subject to the highest levels of protection for marine mammals and protected species. Every aspect of our surveys, construction, and operations are reviewed by multiple local, state, and federal agencies. We are also subject to protective conditions, including vessel speeds, time of year restrictions for construction activities, and regulations requiring onboard observers.

This is why there is no evidence linking offshore wind activity to whale strandings. In fact, offshore wind farms have a crucial role to play in protecting whales by fighting climate change, which has caused whales migration patterns to change. These new patterns put whales at risk of colliding with ships, a common cause of whale deaths.

Ørsted is committed to taking a responsible, nature-conscious approach to developing offshore wind farms. We work closely with scientists, conservationists, and biodiversity experts to ensure the peaceful coexistence of offshore wind and marine wildlife. 

Ørsted has a long record of engaging with the commercial and recreational fishing industries, and coming to agreements to ensure productive coexistence. We are committed to being a good neighbor, and to working together to make both a successful clean energy sector and a thriving fishing industry possible.  

We have the largest, most proactive marine affairs team of any offshore wind developer in the U.S. We minimize disruptions to fishing activities at all phases of project development and construction, and provide weekly briefings to local mariners. We aim to ensure that fishermen have easy access to waters for fishing and can safely navigate during wind farm operations. 

Depending on its size, the lifecycle emissions of an offshore wind turbine max out around 15 grams of carbon CO2 equivalent (i.e., carbon emissions compared to fossil fuel sources) per kilowatt-hour. The majority of these emissions occur during the production and construction phases of development.

This is no more than 3.5% of the lifetime emissions produced by common fossil fuels. Power plants burning natural gas can emit between 430 and 760 grams of CO2e per kilowatt-hour. Coal-fired plants fare even worse, producing up to 1,700 grams of CO2e per kilowatt-hour.

While Ørsted is working to reduce the carbon intensity of wind turbine production, lifecycle assessments show offshore wind to be the cleaner alternative. 

The lead regulator of Ocean Wind 1 at the federal level is the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which is part of the Department of the Interior. Regulatory approval is also required from the U.S. Coast Guard, the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others.

At the state level, the Board of Public Utilities issues contracts that may require state utilities to purchase power. The Department of Environmental Protection issues a variety of permits for ecosystems protection as well.

At the local level, we work with town and county governments for permits related to construction and interconnection. 

Electromagnetic fields (EMF) are a combination of electric and magnetic fields of force. EMF are generated wherever electricity is transmitted or used (e.g., by household appliances, electric wiring, power lines).

EMF are typically localized. In the case of offshore wind farms, offshore and onshore cable systems are often the source of EMF. They are strongest closest to the point at which the fields originate and decrease rapidly in strength the farther they are from the source.

We perform a modeling analysis on our cables to ensure that any EMF emissions are below required thresholds.