BOMBSHELL: Spadea cashed in on money from offshore wind lobby

”I love when people get angry enough to give us money. That’s fantastic," said Spadea.

Undercover audio received by CJN has revealed that Bill Spadea cashed in on the anger surrounding offshore wind development along the Jersey shore, citing it as “a great business model.”

Speaking to guests in June of 2023 at an event hosted by the Common Sense Club, the Spadea-founded nonprofit in support of his candidacy, Spadea boasted that once he started talking about offshore wind, the lobbyists for the wind companies started advertising exclusively on his former morning drive show on NJ101.5.

”I love it,” said Spadea to the crowd, adding that he has “the audience to undo it, but at the same time it’s bringing in a ton of money to the station.”

Offshore wind became a hot-button issue in the 2023 and 2024 elections as grassroots organizations rose up to protest wind farm development, citing concerns with pressure on the electrical grid, impacts to commercial fishing and tourism, and threats to wildlife. The anger that followed became a major campaign issue for Republicans across the state, but for Spadea he saw the anger as a business opportunity.

”I love when people get angry enough to give us money. That’s fantastic - I love it. it’s a great business model,” said Spadea.

Editor’s Note: a previous version of this article stated that Spadea spoke in May of 2023. It was, in fact, June of 2023.

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