‘No path forward’ for 2.4GW US offshore wind farm – Windpower Monthly

Report on the Viability of the Leading Light Wind Project and its Impact on Sustainable Development Goals

Project Details

• Project Name: Leading Light Wind
• Proponent: Invenergy
• Planned Capacity: 2.4 Gigawatts (GW)
• Location: Offshore New Jersey, USA

Assessment of Project Feasibility

The project proponent, Invenergy, has submitted a formal notification to regulatory bodies in New Jersey. The communication states that under the current economic and regulatory landscape, the company does not foresee a viable path for the successful development and implementation of the 2.4GW Leading Light Wind offshore energy project.

Implications for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The potential cessation of this major renewable energy initiative poses a significant setback to the advancement of several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The failure to bring this project to fruition directly impacts local, national, and global sustainability targets.

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

   The project was slated to contribute 2.4GW of clean, renewable energy, a substantial step toward achieving SDG 7. Its failure to proceed represents a direct loss of renewable generation capacity, hindering the transition from fossil fuels and delaying progress toward ensuring universal access to sustainable energy.

2. SDG 13: Climate Action

   Offshore wind power is a critical tool in the global effort to combat climate change. The inability to move forward with Leading Light Wind undermines urgent climate action by impeding the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and weakening the region’s contribution to global climate mitigation efforts.

3. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   Large-scale infrastructure projects are significant drivers of economic growth and job creation. The cancellation of this project curtails opportunities for employment in construction, manufacturing, and operations, negatively impacting the pursuit of sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth as outlined in SDG 8.

4. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

   The challenges cited by Invenergy highlight systemic difficulties in fostering investment in resilient, sustainable, and innovative infrastructure. This situation signals a potential breakdown in the frameworks necessary to support the advanced technologies required for a global green transition, a core tenet of SDG 9.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
   • The article’s central topic is the potential cancellation of the “2.4GW Leading Light Wind offshore project.” This project is a direct initiative to generate clean energy, which is the core focus of SDG 7. The failure of such a large-scale renewable energy project represents a significant setback for achieving clean energy goals.
2. SDG 13: Climate Action
   • Offshore wind farms are critical infrastructure for climate change mitigation, as they generate electricity without producing greenhouse gas emissions. The stalling of a 2.4GW project, as mentioned in the article, directly undermines efforts to combat climate change and its impacts, which is the primary objective of SDG 13.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The development of a major offshore wind project constitutes the building of resilient, sustainable, and technologically advanced infrastructure. The article highlights that Invenergy “cannot see a path forward” for this project, indicating a failure or challenge in developing the sustainable infrastructure needed to support a green industry, a key aspect of SDG 9.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 7.2: Increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.
   • The article discusses a “2.4GW” offshore wind project. This specific capacity represents a substantial increase in the share of renewable energy for New Jersey. The project’s potential failure directly impacts the progress towards meeting this target.
2. Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.
   • The development of large-scale renewable energy projects like the Leading Light Wind project is a tangible outcome of integrating climate change measures into regional and national planning. The statement that the project cannot proceed “under current conditions” suggests that existing policies and strategies may be insufficient to support such critical climate actions.
3. Target 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable…and with greater adoption of clean and environmentally sound technologies.
   • An offshore wind farm is a prime example of new, sustainable infrastructure utilizing clean technology. The article’s focus on the inability to move forward with this project points to a direct challenge in achieving the goal of upgrading and building the necessary infrastructure for a sustainable future.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Indicator for Target 7.2: Installed renewable energy-generating capacity.
   • The article explicitly mentions the project’s planned capacity of “2.4GW.” This figure is a direct, quantifiable measure of new clean energy capacity. While the official SDG indicator is 7.2.1 (Renewable energy share in the total final energy consumption), the installed capacity (in Gigawatts) is the fundamental data point used to calculate that share. The failure to add this 2.4GW can be measured as a direct negative impact on this indicator.
2. Implied Indicator for Target 13.2: Number and scale of climate mitigation projects implemented.
   • The article does not name a formal indicator, but the project itself—the “Leading Light Wind offshore project”—serves as an implied indicator of climate action. The success or failure of such large-scale mitigation projects is a de facto measure of how well climate change measures are being implemented.
3. Implied Indicator for Target 9.4: Investment in sustainable infrastructure.
   • The article implies a lack of favorable investment or regulatory conditions (“under current conditions”). The progression or cancellation of a multi-billion dollar infrastructure project like a 2.4GW wind farm is a strong indicator of the level of investment and commitment to developing sustainable and clean infrastructure.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: windpowermonthly.com