The administration of US President Donald Trump has told a federal court that it is reconsidering its approval of key permits for the up-to 2.8GW Atlantic Shores South EDF-Shell joint venture off the coast of New Jersey.
The US Department of Commerce wrote in a court filing last week that BOEM is reviewing the permit and “will likely make a new agency action” on its October 2024 approval of the development’s construction and operations plan.
The federal government revealed BOEM’s reconsideration in a request to stay an ongoing lawsuit against the project from a New Jersey-based opposition group.
“At the conclusion of BOEM’s reconsideration proceedings, BOEM will likely make a new agency action, and that action may affect-and potentially moot-Plaintiffs’ claims,” Department of Commerce lawyers wrote.
“To avoid potentially needless or wasteful litigation, the Court should remand the COP approval and enter a stay.”
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management declined to comment on the litigation.
In August New Jersey energy regulators approved an Atlantic Shores request to pull out of an agreement to deliver 1500MW of electricity from the first phase of the project.
In June the developers told the state that the project was no longer financially viable.
Atlantic Shores was amongst the first US offshore wind projects to be put under the microscope by the Trump administration.
In March the Environmental Protection Agency was directed by its appeals board to review an air quality permit previously issued to the project.
Atlantic Shores has been contacted for comment.