Mikie Sherrill silent on offshore energy amid campaign despite past wind energy support
MORRISTOWN, N.J. — As her re-election campaign intensifies, Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) has remained quiet on offshore energy policy, despite previously promoting New Jersey as a global leader in wind power.
Sherrill, who represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, publicly backed the Biden Administration’s 2022 announcement to auction offshore wind rights in the New York Bight, calling the move “another crucial step” for the state’s renewable energy future.
“New Jersey is perfectly poised to be a nationwide – and global – leader in the renewable offshore wind space,” Sherrill said at the time, highlighting the economic and energy-saving benefits tied to the initiative.
The congresswoman also pointed to support in the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as a driver of wind development and job creation, promising the projects would result in “money directly in the pockets of New Jersey families.”
That was in 2022. Now, three years later the wind energy industry is in dire straits and President Donald Trump is fighting against offshore wind in New Jersey. Major projects have been canceled and Governor Murphy’s Salem County windport sits empty.
But as recent offshore wind developments have faced pushback from coastal communities and energy stakeholders, Sherrill has not publicly commented on the issue during the current election cycle.
The silence marks a shift from earlier messaging, when Sherrill said she would “continue to do everything I possibly can to support this expansion of offshore wind in New Jersey.”
Sherrill has not issued a new statement on offshore wind since launching her campaign.