Orsted, the largest operator of offshore wind projects in the U.S., declined to attend a Thursday congressional field hearing.and answer concerns about offshore wind’s potential links to rising whale deaths and negative effects on the fishing industry.
Orsted was invited to testify at a congressional district hearing, led by Republican New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew, on the impact of offshore wind industrialization on the Jersey shore amid criticism that the site of their two offshore wind projects has played a role in recent whale deaths and caused problems for fishermen along the eastern seaboard.
The company is developing the adjacent Ocean Wind 1 and Ocean Wind 2 projects just 15 miles off the South Jersey coast. These projects are meant to generate 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind energy, enough to power more than 500,000 homes, and are expected to begin commercial operations by the end of 2024.