Climate Ready: The benefits, and challenges, of wind energy

all right now to our climate ready Series tonight ABC News and Action News have teamed up to focus on solutions to adapt to the current challenges our climate is facing an action news reporter Trish Hartman has a look at how wind energy is gaining in popularity inside the sustainability Lab at Stockton University students research renewable energy and that includes wind the wind offshore is strong and predictable which makes it an incredibly reliable source of energy Professor Patrick H is following the development of offshore wind farms off the coast of New Jersey closely including some significant obstacles the biggest one defining a manufacturing supply chain without question currently there are three viable offshore wind projects off the coast of Central and Southern New Jersey a fourth orad's ocean wind was cancelled last year the company citing economic factors last month the project called Leading Light wind paused through December 20th the reason trouble finding of manufactur for the turbine blades leading light winds Project Director says the company will keep pursuing options and discussing with the State Board of Public Utilities you don't just buy a turbine and then install it you basically need to find manufacturers as local as possible and as Regional as possible because these are large pieces of equipment that really can't easily be moved around the world but H doesn't think this is the end for Leading Light another project Atlantic Shores just received Clean Air Act permits from the EPA while these projects have prompted outrage protests and lawsuits from groups and politicians along the Jersey Shore State officials say pushing ahead will help mitigate the effects of climate change on the region by investing in clean energy and developing offshore wind we are doing our part in New Jersey to mitigate those effects and hopefully reduce any potential outcome that is you know that that could be devastating when it comes to flooding along the coastline officials say turbines could start spinning anywhere between 2028 and 2032 now New Jersey is is on its fourth round of offshore wind solicitations meaning more projects could be in the works by the end of the year reporting in Atlantic City New Jersey Trish Hartman Channel 6 Action News