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South Jersey Energy Company Could Be First In Country To Generate Wind Power Off-Shore

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A small South Jersey energy company could become the first in the country to generate power with off-shore wind turbines.

Fishermen's Energy plans this week to launch a buoy that will help determine the best placement for turbines off the shore of Atlantic City. It will also help confirm how much energy the turbines could produce, currently estimated to be 25 megawatts.

The company hopes to get its wind farm generating power by Labor Day 2013, which would likely make it the first U.S. company to tap wind energy in the ocean.

Fishermen's spokesperson, Rhonda Jackson, says the project has had a lot of support, including Governor Christie's new master energy plan. "There are a number of initiatives the state has taken and it really indicates that New Jersey is open for business and wants to have off-shore wind industry located here in New Jersey and have Atlantic City hopefully be a hub of that activity."

The wind farm would be located in state waters, 2.8 miles from Atlantic City, but visible from the beach. Power lines would come ashore near Tennessee Avenue. Jackson says the company expects a final ruling from the Board of Public Utilities in March and is ready to begin. "We've had support from all the political officials in New Jersey, we've had folks in Atlantic City, the mayor, the city council has been very, very supportive."

The project also has the support of green groups such as Environment New Jersey. Spokesman Matt Elliot says the wind farm would generate 25 megawatts of electricity without creating one drop of pollution, "so I think it's a win-win for the people of New Jersey and the environment."

A wind farm off of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, has been under debate for more than a decade but the Fishermen's Energy project is moving ahead faster.

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