While New Jersey’s Attorney General hailed a federal court victory for offshore wind development, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia argued the state’s offshore wind strategy has already collapsed after taxpayers absorbed massive losses and major developers abandoned projects.
A renewed political battle over offshore wind erupted this week after New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport celebrated a legal victory clearing the way for future wind energy development, while Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia blasted the announcement as “propaganda” that ignores the financial fallout from the state’s troubled offshore wind efforts.
The dispute follows a federal court action that effectively ends litigation over a previous federal directive that had paused offshore wind approvals and construction.
State claims victory in federal court
Davenport said the dismissal allows New Jersey and other states to continue pursuing offshore wind projects.
“Our victory in court stands: New Jersey can proceed with the development of wind energy,” Davenport wrote on social media.
“This is a win for everyone who wants cleaner energy at lower cost.”
According to state officials, the U.S. Department of Justice voluntarily dropped its appeal in a case involving offshore wind permitting, solidifying a prior ruling that blocked an attempt to halt federal wind project approvals.
The Attorney General’s Office called the outcome a major step toward advancing clean energy goals and improving long-term grid reliability.
Fantasia says reality tells a different story
Fantasia, one of the Legislature’s most outspoken critics of offshore wind development, responded sharply to the Attorney General’s announcement.
“This isn’t the flex @NewJerseyOAG thinks it is,” Fantasia wrote.
“I’m nauseated by how freely propaganda & revisionist history is shoveled out of the @GovSherrillNJ administration.”
The Sussex County Republican argued that New Jersey residents have already paid a steep price for failed offshore wind projects.
“NJ taxpayers were rocked by a $175M loss because a bunch of swooning progressives spent years literally chasing windmills & calling it ‘smart energy policy,'” Fantasia said.
“NJ offshore wind COLLAPSED.”
Fantasia pointed to the collapse of major offshore wind projects and a financial settlement that she says left taxpayers shortchanged.
“Developers walked away and the state claimed it was owed $300M & settled for a paltry $125M,” she wrote.
Debate over “clean energy”
Fantasia also challenged claims that offshore wind represents a truly clean energy source.
“These turbines require steel, concrete, copper, fiberglass, rare earth minerals, mining, manufacturing, diesel-powered ships, heavy equipment, transportation, installation, maintenance, & backup generation,” she wrote.
“They’re mined with fossil fuels, manufactured with fossil fuels, transported with fossil fuels, installed with fossil fuels, maintained with fossil fuels, & backed up by conventional energy sources when they can’t produce enough electricity.”
She further argued that wind energy’s intermittent nature limits its ability to serve as a primary power source.
“WIND ENERGY IS INTERMITTENT BY DEFINITION,” Fantasia wrote. “It is a supplemental energy source, not a reliable baseload source.”
Offshore wind remains major political issue
The debate comes after a series of setbacks for New Jersey’s offshore wind ambitions, including the cancellation of Ørsted’s Ocean Wind projects and ongoing disputes over future development plans.
State officials continue to support offshore wind as a cornerstone of New Jersey’s long-term energy strategy, arguing it is necessary to reduce carbon emissions and meet future electricity demands.
Opponents, however, contend that the projects are too costly, unreliable, and dependent on government subsidies.
Fantasia suggested voters are increasingly frustrated with government officials who continue to promote offshore wind despite recent project failures.
“Sometimes the truth is ugly,” she wrote. “You can slap a coat of paint on the progressive fairy tale, but the foundation’s still crumbling.”
Key Points
• New Jersey’s Attorney General celebrated a federal court victory allowing offshore wind development to proceed
• Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said the state’s offshore wind strategy has already failed and cost taxpayers millions
• The dispute highlights ongoing political divisions over New Jersey’s energy future following the collapse of several major offshore wind projects