Ocean County Leader

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has expressed approval for the decision by Interior Secretary Doug Burgum of the Trump Administration to halt the construction of the Empire Wind project, which is located off the coast of New Jersey and New York. This development has been perceived as a victory for those opposing the expansion of offshore wind projects in the region.

Smith stated, “This is a great victory for all of us who have been fighting to protect the Jersey Shore from offshore wind industrialization. We are grateful to President Trump and Secretary Burgum for their analysis and confirmation of the serious issues we have raised throughout the offshore wind approval process.”

Secretary Burgum, in a letter to the Acting Director of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, cited newly obtained information which “raises serious issues with respect to project approvals for the Empire Wind Project.” He indicated that the project approval seemed to have been expedited without thorough analysis or consultation, especially regarding potential impacts.

The cessation of construction comes after Smith's correspondence to Secretary Burgum urging a halt to Equinor's construction activities until a comprehensive assessment, as ordered by President Trump's January 20th executive order, could be completed. Smith highlighted the need for a review of the federal wind leasing process, questioning the adequacy of environmental reviews required under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA).

Smith criticized the NEPA review under the Biden Administration for being "completely inadequate" in addressing essential queries about national security, environmental concerns, and local economic impacts. He warned of potential disruptions in critical waters and interference with important radar systems.

The decision to stop the Empire Wind project follows a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report, which raised national security and safety concerns about offshore wind turbines due to their interference with radar systems. Smith noted that this report bolstered the Trump Administration's decision to pause offshore wind projects.

Smith concluded that the Trump Administration's action acknowledges the concerns of New Jersey residents and communities, previously dismissed by the Biden and Murphy administrations. He commented, “Ocean wind energy development is an egregiously flawed and dangerous initiative but with this cancellation we in New Jersey who have long been pointing out the obvious whitewash of these projects have finally been vindicated and heard at the highest levels of government.”