The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has published the draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for two wind energy projects off New Jersey, totalling 2.8GW.
Atlantic Shores submitted a combined Construction and Operations plan (COP) for two wind energy facilities and associated export cables on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore New Jersey.
The sites are the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1 and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 2, collectively referred to as the Atlantic Shores South Wind Project.
The notice of availability will publish in the Federal Register on 19 May 2023, which will open a 45-day public comment period that ends on 3 July 2023.
The input received during the comment period will inform preparation of the final EIS.
The combined proposal includes up to 200 total wind turbines and up to 10 offshore substations with subsea transmission cables making landfall at up to two New Jersey locations: in Atlantic City, Sea Girt, or both.
“As BOEM moves forward with our environmental reviews, we are committed to working with Tribal nations, government agency partners, lessees, environmental organisations, local communities, ocean users and others,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein.
“By working together, we can build a strong, enduring offshore wind industry that ensures American communities across the nation benefit from good paying jobs and clean, reliable, domestic renewable energy,” she added.
The Atlantic Shores South Wind Project draft EIS can be found on BOEM’s website,
Project 1 has an Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate award from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities for 1510MW of capacity.
Atlantic Shores is seeking a second power offtake agreement for Project 2, which has a goal of generating 1327MW.
BOEM will use the findings of the final EIS to inform its decision on whether to approve the Atlantic Shores South Wind Project COP, and if so, what mitigation measures to require.
American Clean Power Association (ACP)’s offshore wind vice president Josh Kaplowitz said: “The release of the draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and call for public comments demonstrates both the Administration’s and industry’s commitment to building clean power in a way that protects the environment.
“As the DEIS highlights, offshore wind farms go through rigorous environmental reviews.
“We appreciate BOEM’s thorough and inclusive process, which also takes into account the economic benefits that the construction and operation offshore wind farms provide.”