abcnews.go.com
New Jersey Offshore Wind Project Seeks Second Delay Amidst Market Volatility
New Jersey's Leading Light Wind project, a joint venture between Invenergy and energyRE, seeks a second delay until May 2020 due to market volatility, impacting its ability to secure crucial turbine components and potentially delaying the project's contribution of power to 1 million homes.
- How do the challenges faced by Leading Light Wind reflect broader issues within the global offshore wind energy market?
- The project's challenges highlight broader issues within the offshore wind industry, including supply chain disruptions and price volatility affecting equipment manufacturers. The inability to secure turbine blades, coupled with increased costs from the remaining supplier, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy, demonstrates significant economic hurdles. This situation is further complicated by the impending change in presidential administration, with opponents citing this as evidence against the industry's feasibility.
- What are the immediate consequences of Leading Light Wind's second delay request on the New Jersey offshore wind energy sector?
- Leading Light Wind, a New Jersey offshore wind project, requested a second delay until May 2020 due to "significant price volatility" in the offshore wind equipment market. This follows an earlier delay and the withdrawal of a turbine manufacturer, GE Vernova, leaving limited options for crucial turbine components. The project, a joint venture between Invenergy and energyRE, aims to power 1 million homes.
- What are the long-term implications of this project's difficulties for future offshore wind energy development in New Jersey and beyond?
- The Leading Light Wind project's delay underscores the nascent nature of the offshore wind industry and its vulnerability to market fluctuations. The project's fate, and potentially that of others, hinges on resolving supply chain issues and price volatility while navigating political headwinds. Future project development may require more robust risk mitigation strategies to ensure economic viability.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The narrative frames the story around the difficulties faced by Leading Light Wind, emphasizing delays and cost volatility. The headline, while not explicitly biased, focuses on the delay request, setting a negative tone. The inclusion of the opposition group's statement further amplifies the negative aspects of the project, without equivalent focus on positive viewpoints or counterarguments. The use of phrases such as "latest patch of turbulence" and "significant price volatility" contributes to this negative framing.
Language Bias
The article uses language that leans towards negativity, such as "turbulence," "challenges," and "volatility." These terms, while factually accurate, contribute to a sense of instability and uncertainty surrounding the offshore wind industry. The quote from Protect Our Coast NJ uses strong language ("threatens the lifeblood"), further reinforcing the negative tone. More neutral alternatives could include 'obstacles,' 'fluctuations,' and 'adjustments' for a more balanced presentation.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses heavily on the challenges faced by Leading Light Wind, potentially omitting the successes or smoother progress of other offshore wind projects in New Jersey. While it mentions two other projects, Attentive Energy Two and Atlantic Shores, the description is brief and lacks detail regarding their development progress, creating an unbalanced perspective. The positive outlook from Paulina O'Connor is included, but it might not fully counter the negative emphasis on Leading Light's struggles.
False Dichotomy
The article presents a false dichotomy by implying that the challenges faced by Leading Light Wind represent the entire offshore wind industry's economic feasibility. The opposition group, Protect Our Coast NJ, directly links the project's delays to the potential return of Donald Trump to the White House, framing the issue as a simple eitheor scenario, ignoring other contributing factors such as global supply chain issues and market volatility. This oversimplification risks misinforming readers about the complexities of the situation.
Gender Bias
The article does not exhibit significant gender bias. While several men are quoted, there is also a female voice (Paulina O'Connor) offering a counter perspective. The language used is neutral with respect to gender.
Sustainable Development Goals
The delays in the Leading Light Wind project highlight challenges in the offshore wind industry, hindering progress toward affordable and clean energy goals. The project's inability to secure equipment at stable prices and the volatility in the market directly impact the timely deployment of renewable energy sources, delaying the transition to cleaner energy and potentially increasing costs for consumers.