An offshore wind project off the coast of New Jersey is stalled as the developers are facing a second delay in four months.
The project, called Leading Light Wind, was first delayed in September as developers Invenergy and energyRe struggled to secure a manufacturer for the dozens of turbine blades needed for the massive wind farm.
Months later, the developers have reportedly continued to scramble to find a manufacturer and have requested a second delay, according to the Associated Press.
The first delay ended on Dec. 20 and one day prior, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities was asked to approve an additional pause through May 20, 2025.
While the project did not explicitly say it has been unable to secure a manufacturer, the developers reportedly told the board, “The offshore wind equipment market continues to experience significant price volatility and the company has not yet identified a solution to that volatility.”
Wes Jacobs, the director of Leading Light Wind, told the Associated Press that the additional pause would allow the developers to navigate shifts within the market and supply chain difficulties.
The project is to build an offshore wind farm around 40 miles off Long Beach Island. It will consist of 100 turbines and could generate enough power for up to 1 million homes.
The board originally approved it in January 2024 and has struggled to find a critical blade supplier since.
GE Vernova, one of the top turbine manufacturers in the world, has said it would not build the turbines developers planned to use. Additionally, manufacturer Vestas was not deemed suitable to partner with, and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy said it would be increasing its prices.
The project has been widely criticized by New Jersey Republicans, especially those who represent districts along the Jersey Shore. It has also faced opposition from some environmentalist groups that claim the offshore wind farm would put marine life and ecosystems in the region at risk.
The proposed second delay comes just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. The Republican has long rallied against offshore wind development and is expected to take action against the industry toward the start of his administration.
While it remains unclear what exactly Trump may do, some have predicted an executive order that would roll back all federal funding for offshore wind projects.
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Despite Trump’s criticisms of the renewable energy source, many within the industry remain confident there will still be room for development in the next four years.
“I think we’re in a place where the benefits of offshore wind are in red and blue states,” Jenny Netherton, the Southeastern Wind Coalition’s Louisiana program manager, previously told the Washington Examiner. “And when you start piecing together the diversity of our energy mix across the U.S. to deliver what we truly need for demand, I think that there is a place that it can fit in Trump’s plan to be able to deliver that.”