The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will initiate the environmental review of a proposed wind-energy project offshore New Jersey, which would deliver clean renewable energy to the region.
On March 18, BOEM published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan submitted by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores). This is the 12th offshore wind-energy COP environmental review initiated under the Biden-Harris administration.
At its closest point, the approximately 81,129-acre lease area, OCS-A 0549, known as Atlantic Shores North, is 8.4 miles from the New Jersey coast and about 60 miles from New York.
The Atlantic Shores proposal includes installation of up to 157 wind-turbine generators, eight offshore substations, one permanent meteorological tower, and two temporary metocean buoys — for a total of up to 168 offshore structures. The COP also proposes two potential export cable corridors that would make landfall at: (1) Sea Girt, New Jersey, and (2) in either the New York City area or near Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Since the start of the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved the nation’s first six commercial scale offshore wind projects, held four offshore wind lease auctions — including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and the first-ever sale offshore the Pacific and Gulf Coasts, initiated environmental review of 10 offshore wind projects, and advanced the process to explore additional Wind Energy Areas in Oregon, Gulf of Maine and Central Atlantic. The Department has also taken steps to evolve its approach to offshore wind to drive toward union-built projects and a domestic based supply chain.
“BOEM is continuing to implement the Biden-Harris administration’s clean-energy agenda, while maintaining a careful approach to prevent, reduce, and address any adverse effects on ocean users and the marine ecosystem,” said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. “As an integral part of our environmental assessments, we will continue to actively solicit feedback from Tribes; federal, state, and local government partners; the fishing community; and the public to help guide our actions.”
More info www.boem.gov
