Meanwhile, New Jersey political circles are being engulfed in the highly charged issue of offshore wind development.

Senate Republicans are calling on the legislature to get back to Trenton to pump the brakes on all development.

The opposition, though, doesn't end there.

It's spilling over into criticism of Governor Murphy's new pick to head the BPU.

She's a long time ally who helped create the administration's clean energy plan.

Senior correspondent Brenda Flanagan has the latest If you don't know, then you're going to get arrested.

Ocean City Police did arrest half a dozen folks after they staged a sit in to delay construction of an underground power cable that would connect to offshore wind turbines or stage wind farm projects designed to generate clean energy and combat climate change.

But that's not how these protesters see it.

We're just here trying to stop Orsted, trying to save our oceans and try to save our beaches and our community.

It's a crusade that's evolved beyond protest groups like Protect Our Coast.

New Jersey have filed multiple lawsuits to block Orsted Ocean Wind Project, fueled by funding from widespread contributions.

You don't destroy the environment in order to save it.

There are better ways.

And there have to be better ways to go about this to solve the problem of climate change.

Everybody wants a cleaner environment, but I think we're going too fast, too much.

And we don't know what the cost is ultimately going to be to the taxpayers.

Senator Anthony Bucco says Republicans sent a letter asking Democratic leadership to call a special legislative session on the issue.

They opposed signing over an estimated $2 billion in federal tax credits to Orsted and disapprove of Murphy's appointment to succeed the late Joe Fiordaliso head of Jersey's Board of Public Utilities.

Christine Guhl-Sadovy.

She helped craft the governor's energy master plan.

I would have liked to have seen somebody chair the agency that was a little more balanced that, you know, was able to hear both sides of the argument and and make a decision.

I don't think we're getting that.

I think we're getting a rubber stamp for the Murphy administration.

I think unfortunately, these these attacks against Christine are partisan in nature.

Environmental advocates who support Governor Murphy's goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 back his new BPU boss.

But admit they've lost some edge in the political narrative over the course of this year we've seen some of the poll numbers diverge a little bit and have a more partisan distinction.

The majority of New Jersey New Jersey residents still support offshore wind.

The advocates, and particularly the Democrats, were just caught flat footed and not really understanding how quickly these things can change and how the partisan tribalism that's driving our politics today is going to take over almost every issue.

Monmouth Poll Director Patrick Murray says surveys show public support for wind energy's eroded from 84% in 2011 to just 54% this August down 30 points.

It's tanked among Republicans.

It's happening across the country and you can basically track the money this is coming from sources that actually want to drill off the coasts.

But it became part of the Republican orthodoxy to be against wind energy, renewable energy.

Orsted, an underwriter of NJ Spotlight News, is also facing financial headwinds.

It recently extended its jersey project schedule by a year to 2026, leading kinks in the supply chain and high interest rates.

Today's milestone no official release gave Ocean Wind 1 a permit for underwater construction as long as Orsted follows rules designed to mitigate harmful impacts on 16 species of marine mammals.

Especially North Atlantic right whales.

The company commented Orsted prioritizes coexistence with our local communities, marine wildlife and ocean neighbors.

This permit strictly prohibits Ocean Wind 1 from seriously injuring or causing the death of any marine mammal regardless protests will undoubtedly continue.

I'm Brenda Flanagan, NJ Spotlight News