the offshore wind industry is facing mounting challenges largely brought by inflation and high costs causing delays it comes at a time of charged rhetoric and misinformation over recent whale deaths off the east coast and it's threatening to derail clean energy efforts here in New Jersey and Nationwide senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the story an offshore wind rally sponsored by supporters of clean energy drew a crowd to the Long Branch beach front speakers concerned that New Jersey's falling behind schedule getting wind turbines in place pointed to floods and fires resulting from climate change they urge the wind industry to speed up development because of everything that is happening and if we do not take action we will choke and we will drown the controversial issue Drew protesters to folks who blame offshore wind for a spike in dead whales and dolphins they cat called speakers who gave it right back this is not a moment to give in to misinformation this is a moment to invite these newcomers to save this planet sometimes when you have to push for change you have a fight former Senate President Steve Sweeney sponsored Jersey's wind energy legislation but he's deeply concerned that even with a wind poured in the works in Salem County offshore wind development is stalled over increased industry cost concerns we're first in line right now if we don't move quickly other states like New York are going to pass us we're going to have the windmills we're just not going to have the manufacturing jobs um issuing a recommendation to those Developers put your nose to the grindstone and let's get this going again because my patients are short and your delays are intolerable BPU President Joe fiately so pointed to New Jersey's approved three offshore Wind Farm Tracks Ocean wind 1 and 2 belonged to developer orstead which claims Rising inflation higher interest rates and supply chain issues have pushed up costs that's why orstead would like to obtain federal tax credits available from the inflation reduction act we've been talking with um policy makers about ways that we can take advantage of those federal tax credits to put towards these Investments at no added cost to rate payers if we are able to utilize these tax credits there will be no added cost to repairs whatsoever for those two in one project orsted's Madeleine urbish says the developers making progress that it expects to begin onshore construction for ocean wind won this fall and will make its deadlines but New Jersey's division of rate Council director has expressed deep concerns that federal tax credit is supposed to be paid back to rate payers to lower the amount that they will pay the original deal struck by Regulators did obligate New Jersey rate payers to help pay for offshore Wind Farm construction ocean wind one alone will cost them each a buck 50 a month over 20 years but that's just the beginning we're already working over a significant amount of money to fund offshore winds and to now be asked to pay more money without really understanding how much money orsted will be making out of this is problematic figuring it out is complicated and depends on Energy prices years in the future wind energy Advocates insist it's a price we need to pay including tax credits we have seen other states like New York put that thumb on the scale and it's important that New Jersey follows suit because we know that when we're creating a new industry it's it's not going to be easy right but we don't have time to wait I'm Brenda Flanagan NJ Spotlight news [Music] [Music]