2 More Wind Farms Planned For Jersey Shore: Comments Sought

ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — The draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is now available for two more wind energy projects off the Jersey Shore.

The Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1 and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 2, collectively called the Atlantic Shores South Wind Project, could generate about 2,800 megawatts (MW) of electricity, enough to power almost 1 million homes, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) said in a release.

This proposal would be located off the coast of Atlantic County, according to project documents. It would have up to 200 total wind turbines and up to ten offshore substations with subsea transmission cables making landfall at Atlantic City, Sea Girt or both.

The lease area stretches about 102,124 acres and is about 8.7 miles off the coast of New Jersey at its closest point, according to BOEM.

A comment period on the draft EIS opens on May 19 and lasts 45 days, closing on July 3. The EIS covers what potential impacts the farms could have, and comments will help form the final EIS. BOEM will then use the final EIS to determine whether the project should be approved, and if it should, what mitigation measures should be taken.

Two in-person public meetings and two virtual meetings are set for members of the public to learn more about the project and provide comment.

You can read the 900-page draft EIS and find out more information about the projects here. There is also information on how to register for the meetings and how to submit comments.

In-person meeting dates are:

• June 21 at 5 p.m. Holiday Inn Manahawkin/Long Beach Island, 151 Route 72 West, Manahawkin
• June 22 at 5 p.m. Atlantic City Convention Center, 1 Convention Blvd, Atlantic City

Virtual meeting dates are:

• June 26 at 1:00 p.m. 
• June 28 at 5:00 p.m.

“As BOEM moves forward with our environmental reviews, we are committed to working with Tribal nations, government agency partners, lessees, environmental organizations, 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.”