US kicks off environmental checks on Shell-EDF New Jersey offshore wind giant

The US Department of Energy (DoE) is set to begin its environmental review of developer Atlantic Shores’ 1.5GW development off New Jersey, the state’s largest offshore wind project to date.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), which regulates industry activity on the US federal outer continental shelf for the Department of Interior, will publish a notice of intent (NOI) to begin the assessment of the giant development, which is located 10-20 miles (16-32km) off Atlantic City, tomorrow (30 September).

The publication of the NOI will open a 30-day public comment period, which will include three virtual public meetings designed to help BOEM determine the scope of any ecological, social, and economic issues presented by the development, as well as reasonable alternatives and potential mitigating measures.

Atlantic Shores’ construction and operations plan (COP) for the 1.5GW project was submitted earlier this month.

“We are committed to facilitating a transparent and inclusive process for every offshore energy development project,” said BOEM director Amanda Lefton.

“Public input plays an essential role for identifying and mitigating potential impacts from proposed energy development activities. That is why BOEM is committed to working closely with ocean users, such as commercial fishermen, as well as industry, tribes, government partners, and conservation organisations, to make sure offshore wind development is done in an environmentally safe and responsible way.”  

Atlantic Shores, a joint venture (JV) between Shell New Energies and EDF Renewables, holds one of the largest lease areas in the waters off the eastern seaboard – where the Biden administration aims to have a total of 30GW turning by the end the decade – with “at least” 3GW of power generation potential in the full 740km2 zone it won in 2018 from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

“We want to harness the best technologies,” she says. “So, we have a range of turbine sizes in our permits – the smallest would be 13.6MW and our largest is 20MW,” she said.

New Jersey is a frontrunning state in the US offshore wind market, with plans for 7.5GW of offshore wind by 2035, including current planned capacity of over 3.7GW, including Ocean Wind 1 (980MW) and Ocean Wind 2 (1.14GW), both being develop by Danish utility Orsted.

Atlantic Shores is already making substantial investments in NJ’s offshore wind infrastructure, including $35.6m into the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County. New Jersey recently broke ground on the $400m facility which will serve as not only marshalling port but will also eventually host nacelle assembling and other manufacturing facilities.

BOEM approved the COP for Vineyard Wind off Massachusetts this past month, and the DOE expects it to complete the review of at least another six projects in the US Atlantic by 2025 (for a total of at least 16 COP reviews).

Together, these COPs represent more than 19GW of offshore wind capacity. BOEM is also preparing for lease sales offshore New York state, the Carolinas and California next year, and is exploring wind potential in the Gulf of Maine, Oregon, Hawaii, and the Gulf of Mexico.