The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has approved the Atlantic Shores South project plan to construct and operate two wind energy facilities with a capacity of 2800MW off the coast of New Jersey, US.
This is the final approval needed from BOEM following the Department of the Interior’s July 2024 Record of Decision.
“The Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to advancing responsible offshore wind energy projects like Atlantic Shores South Wind, which will create good-paying jobs and drive economic growth, while combatting the climate crisis and making our communities more resilient,” said BOEM director Elizabeth Klein (pictured).
“I am proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of Atlantic Shores South Offshore Wind Projects 1 and 2, which have the potential to generate up to 2.8GW of clean, renewable energy – enough to power nearly one million homes.”
Subsequent to the Record of Decision, the original lease was divided into two separate leases, both approximately 8.7 miles offshore New Jersey at their closest points.
The approved construction and operations plan includes up to 197 locations for wind turbines, offshore substations, and a meteorological tower, with subsea transmission cables potentially making landfall in Atlantic City and Sea Girt, providing clean electricity to the New Jersey grid.
BOEM incorporated important feedback from tribes, government agencies, ocean users, and other interested parties prior to making this approval decision.
The feedback resulted in required measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any potential impacts from the project on marine life and other important ocean uses, such as fishing.