BOEM releases final environmental impact statement for two wind projects offshore New Jersey

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced the availability of the final environmental impact statement (EIS) for two wind energy projects offshore New Jersey.

If approved, the two projects could generate about 2.8 GW of electricity, which the BOEM said is enough to power almost one million homes.

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind submitted a combined construction and operations plan for two wind energy facilities and associated export cables on the Outer Continental Shelf offshore New Jersey: Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1 and 2, collectively referred to as the Atlantic Shores South Wind Project.

The combined proposal includes up to 200 total wind turbines and up to ten offshore substations with subsea transmission cables potentially making landfall in Atlantic City and Sea Girt. The lease area covers approximately 102,124 acres (41,328.1 hectares) and is approximately 8.7 miles (14 kilometres) offshore New Jersey at its closest point.

BOEM held four public meetings and a tribal consultation meeting in June 2023 to gather feedback on the Atlantic Shores South draft EIS from Tribal Nations, local community members, commercial fishing interests, and other ocean users.