2023 Offshore Wind Conference and Exhibition in Atlantic City.
Offshore wind projects are not a high priority for New Jersey voters, including those who support the turbines, according to a poll released Tuesday by Stockton University.
Only 24% of 616 registered voters polled said offshore wind projects should be a major priority for the state, while 37% said they should be a minor priority and 29% said they should not be a priority at all, according to the Stockton Polling Institute of the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy.
The margin of error is +/- 3.9 percentage points.
Voters in coastal counties and those who oppose wind turbines were slightly more energized by the issue of offshore wind, with 28% to 29% saying a candidate’s views on the matter would impact their vote greatly.
Just more than half (52%) of voters somewhat (24%) or strongly (29%) support the installation of offshore wind turbines off the coast of New Jersey, while 9% somewhat oppose and 24% strongly oppose. These rates have remained stable since a September 2023 Stockton poll that poll found a sharp decline in support since the previous iteration in 2019.
The results were released a week before hundreds of stakeholders are set to attend the annual Offshore Wind Conference and Exhibition Oct. 28-30 at the Atlantic City Convention Center.
While the meeting to create frameworks for the state’s new offshore wind industry goes on inside, a contingent of offshore wind opponents will be outside the convention center protesting.
When voters who oppose wind turbines were asked for their top reason, most (51%) cited environmental concerns for marine life or the ocean ecosystem, followed by costs (8%), including the cost to produce turbines or the energy costs associated with their use.
Statewide, 17% said a candidate’s views on offshore wind would influence their vote a great deal, 41% said it would influence their vote somewhat, and more than one-third (37%) said it would have no impact on their vote, including 40% of voters who back wind turbines.
“No matter which side of the issue voters land on, they seem to agree that it’s not a top priority,” Hughes Center Research Director Alyssa Maurice said. “The opposition to offshore wind is particularly vocal and well-organized in New Jersey, but the poll shows that for most voters this issue doesn’t move the needle much.”
Smaller differences were found by geographic location. Similar to what was found in 2023, coastal residents were less supportive of the installation of offshore wind turbines. However, they were aligned with all other voters in their support of renewable energy production in general and on whether offshore wind projects should be a major priority for the state.
The poll of 616 registered voters was released by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.
You can find the full poll results here.
