Sweden has rejected 13 applications for wind farms in the Baltic Sea, with officials citing defense concerns as the major reason for the action.
Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson told a press conference that the plan to build a series of wind farms in the Baltic Sea would compromise the country’s defenses, especially imperiling the ability of the armed forces to use Patriot batteries to shoot down incoming missiles.
Sweden’s actions came as protesters gathered outside of a Time for Turbines offshore wind conference at the Atlantic City home of Stockton University.
And while campaigning for reelection in Cape May County, Rep. Jeff Van Drew and County Commission Director Len Desiderio both reiterated their opposition to offshore wind projects. Both won new terms Nov. 5.
While many issues came up in the campaigning, the opposition of some candidates like Van Drew and Desiderio to offshore wind resonated with a number of county voters. Opposition among many voters in the county coalesced as Orsted pushed ahead with its offshore wind project in the face of opposition from local elected bodies, before the company withdrew its plans last year.
Among the criticisms of offshore wind is a concern that wind farms would interfere with the defense of the nation’s coastline.
Swedish officials said world conditions have resulted in a “very serious international security climate,” one in which the wind farms “bring unacceptable risks.” The government may seek to augment its build-out of nuclear power. It already plans to have an additional 2,500 megawatts of nuclear power on schedule for 2035, with 10 new reactors a decade later. Plans for nuclear power may need to grow even more if offshore wind contributions lessen.
A few offshore wind projects in Sweden are still moving ahead, but the government has scrapped its program of subsidies for coupling offshore wind to the electric grid.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
