Updated Fishermen’s Energy loses in court, report says

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Still no go for the windmills that Cape May-based Fishermen’s Energy wants to build off the coast of Atlantic City, according to a published report Friday.(Editor’s note: This report was updated at 2:30 p.m. Friday with comments from Richard S. Mroz of the Board of Public Utilities.)

Still no go for the windmills that Cape May-based Fishermen’s Energy wants to build off the coast of Atlantic City, according to a published report Friday.

The Press of Atlantic City said a state appeals court has backed the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, which has steadfastly vetoed the project over cost concerns.

RELATED: BPU again rejects Fishermen’s Energy project

Richard S. Mroz, president of the BPU, praised the decision in a statement sent to NJBIZ: “The Appellate Division rendered a prompt decision after consideration of an extremely lengthy and complicated record — both procedurally and substantively. Given the long history of this matter, and the years of hard work the BPU devoted to this application, the court’s recognition of the BPU’s ‘expertise’ and ‘experience’ is gratifying.”     

Fishermen’s Energy has been trying since 2011 to build a series of five windmills about three miles offshore. The 25-megawatt wind farm project would be the first such power generating system in New Jersey.

Fishermen’s also has said the project would create 500 jobs.

Though Fishermen’s has the necessary permits to move forward with the project, it can’t begin building the turbines unless the BPU approves its application to obtain an Offshore Renewable Energy Certificate, which demonstrates its viability.

However, although the company insists there is no cost risk to the state, the BPU feels otherwise.

The Press reported that the court said the BPU “was not persuaded that the risks and costs of using an unproven technology to produce electricity at prices several times the market price were offset by the asserted benefits of the project.”

Fishermen’s has said a $47 million federal grant it won in May 2014 would help offset the costs of the $188 million project.

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