Winter winds might not evoke a comforting image; in fact, most of us cozy up inside to avoid them. But New Jersey’s future offshore wind projects are key to ensuring our lights and heaters stay on during the winter months while remaining affordable.
As we prepare for more cold, New Jersey families are facing a harsh reality: Electricity bills are up by more than 17%, and forecasts suggest higher winter heating prices.
This is not unique to this year. We are getting closer to a time when generation fails to meet peak demand hours. The next 30-plus years of power sources are being built now, and we need to consider timeline, reliability and community health when deciding which type of power to invest in.
More capacity now, not later
PJM Interconnection, the grid operator responsible for ensuring sufficient electricity supply for the majority of the Mid-Atlantic, including New Jersey, has a capacity shortfall. By 2035, the gap could grow to 30 gigawatts — roughly the average electricity use of about 25 million homes — meaning consumer needs will outstrip supply.
As demand from electrification and data centers continues to grow, grid outages may become a common reality. This isn’t just a New Jersey issue, but a problem facing most Americans.
New Jersey should adopt an “All of the above” approach to energy deployment, prioritizing sources that can produce power quickly and cost-effectively, such as offshore wind and other renewables.
The reality is, nuclear plants typically take 10 years or more to build. Gas turbine manufacturing backlogs are as long as five to seven years, with costs rising sharply.
Permitting issues and political uncertainty are delaying offshore wind construction. This instability only worsens the problem, rather than helping solve it, while alternatives remain years out of reach.
As PJM stated in a recent court filing in support of Virginia offshore wind, “Further delay of the project will cause irreparable harm to the 67 million residents of this region that depend on continued reliable delivery of electricity.”
A reliable grid is a diverse grid
While the grid can be unreliable, peak load times are generally predictable.
In the winter, electricity use spikes after 5 p.m. when families return home and turn on lights, appliances and heaters. Summer peak is afternoon, when temperatures are highest and air conditioners are on full blast. These hours are when the grid is most vulnerable to shutting down, and prices increase as demand goes up.
At the same time, offshore wind produces the most during evenings and winter months, exactly when demand peaks. The worst weather at sea, in fact, forces turbines to do their best work.
Ocean winds are steadier and more predictable than their land-based counterparts, enhancing reliability. Furthermore, offshore wind contributes to a balanced mix of renewable sources by complementing solar power, which drops after sunset, and pairs well with technologies like battery storage.
To be successful in all types of weather, at all times of day, the grid needs a diverse portfolio of electricity sources. Dismissing offshore wind from consideration is a mistake. Families facing higher electricity costs and power outages deserve fair consideration of every possible solution.
Healthier communities
Offshore wind energy provides significant public health benefits to New Jersey. Wind energy doesn’t emit air pollutants that drive asthma attacks and respiratory illness. New Jersey’s childhood asthma rate is higher than the national average, linked to emissions. Each dollar invested in wind energy in the Mid-Atlantic returns $1.60-$4.80 in public health savings. Fewer chemical emissions translates directly to healthier communities.
As temperatures drop, New Jersey families are switching on the heat and hoping our bills don’t break the bank. In the summer, we’ll power our air conditioners and pray the grid holds.
It’s not an option to continue delaying a solution while bills rise and reliability concerns grow. All choices should be on the table, and offshore wind must be part of the conversation.
