As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s goal to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) today announced the availability of preliminary environmental impact statements (EIS) for two wind projects off New Jersey. If approved, these projects could generate approximately 2,800 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power nearly one million homes.
200 wind turbines in total
Atlantic Shores has submitted a Combined Construction and Operations Plan (COP) for two wind energy facilities and associated export cables on the Outer Continental Shelf off the coast of New Jersey: the Atlantic Shores 1 offshore wind project and the Atlantic Shores 2 offshore wind project. The two projects are collectively referred to as the Atlantic Shores South Wind Project. The combined proposal includes up to 200 total wind turbines and up to ten offshore substations with subsea transmission cables terminating at two locations in New Jersey – Atlantic City, Sea Girt, or both. The lease area covers approximately 102,124 acres and is located approximately 8.7 nautical miles offshore of New Jersey at its closest point.
The Atlantic Shores South Wind Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement can be found on the BOEM website. The notice of availability will be published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2023, opening a 45-day public comment period ending at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 3, 2023. Comments received during this period will be considered in the preparation of the final HIA.
Public commitment
Project 1 received an offshore wind renewable energy certificate from the New Jersey Public Utilities Commission for 1,510 MW of offshore wind energy, enough to power 528,000 homes. Atlantic Shores is seeking a second power purchase agreement for Project 2, which aims to generate 1,327 MW, enough to power approximately 464,450 homes. BOEM will use the results of the final EIS to make a decision on whether to approve the Atlantic Shores South Wind Project COP and, if so, what mitigation measures to require.
During the comment period, BOEM will hold two in-person and two virtual public meetings where the public can learn more about the review process, the schedule for the HIA, the potential impacts of the proposed project, and proposals to reduce those potential impacts. Participants will also have the opportunity to provide comments on the draft environmental impact statement.
