TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was dealt a stunning blow today as 0rsted, the company that planned to build two massive wind farms off the Jersey Shore, pulled the plug, sinking the project.

0rsted, which has been financially battered since its stock price crashed earlier this fall, has been seeking more government handouts to complete the project. With none being available, the company announced it’s pulling out at the Jersey Shore.

Officially, 0rsted blamed supply chain issues.

Unofficially, wind energy companies, reliant on support from the Biden administration in the wake of interest rate increases and supply chain problems, are losing faith in a federal bailout of the industry.

The news comes just days after Shore News Network reported that wind energy companies are looking to the Biden administration for a hail mary to save the industry from collapse.

The announcement by 0rsted’s CEO Mads Nipper, a blow to Governor Murphy’s clean energy agenda, is being touted as a huge pre-election victory for Republicans along the Jersey Shore who opposed the project.

“Today’s decision by Orsted to abandon its commitments to New Jersey is outrageous and calls into question the company’s credibility and competence,” Murphy said upon hearing the news. “As recently as several weeks ago, the company made public statements regarding the viability and progress of the Ocean Wind I project.”

That’s not all the governor is worried about. Weeks after granting the company a $100 million tax break, Murphy now realizes he will be losing $200 million the company was going to pay the state, which will help pay for other critical infrastructure upgrades to support Murphy’s wind energy agenda.

Despite the major setback, Murphy said he’s going back to the drawing board and will open up the Ocean Wind I & II projects for bidding, saying he will succeed.

Congressman Jeff Van Drew, who opposed the project, celebrated the news.

“I am thrilled to see that Orsted has decided to pack up its offshore wind scam and leave South Jersey’s beautiful coasts alone. A tremendous win for South Jersey residents, our fishermen, and the historic coastline of the Jersey Shore,” he said.

New Jersey State Senator Mike Testsa, another opponent of the project celebrated by posting a “#savedthewhales” meme, saying. “The people of NJ have officially sunk the wind out of Ørsted and Governor Murphy’s sails.”

Republicans are now hoping to turn the decision into political clout a week before an election, in an effort to prove that they are ready to finally fight Phil Murphy’s radical agendas, and can succeed, despite being in the majority.

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Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

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