Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Cancels 1.5 GW Wind Farm Plan in New Jersey

After facing numerous challenges and opposition, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind has officially announced its decision to withdraw its plan for a 1.5 GW wind farm off the coast of New Jersey. The company recently filed a petition with New Jersey regulators to cancel the licenses it had secured in 2021.

Atlantic Shores had been developing Project 1, a proposed wind farm with a capacity to power approximately 700,000 homes. Despite receiving approvals from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management for both phases of the project, it had not been selected by New Jersey regulators for a power purchase agreement during the recent bidding round.

Originally established as a joint venture between Shell and EDF Renewables, Atlantic Shores remained committed to the project even after Shell announced its withdrawal from offshore wind investments. The company had also planned investments in New Jersey’s Wind Port in Salem.

However, the project faced opposition from former President Donald Trump, who had campaigned against offshore wind power in New Jersey. Trump’s executive order freezing permitting and subsequent actions by the Environmental Protection Agency further complicated the project’s development.

Atlantic Shores recently filed to terminate its Offshore Renewable Energy Certificates with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, signaling a significant setback for the offshore wind industry in the state. Governor Murphy’s ambitious plans for offshore wind power may not materialize as scheduled, with several projects facing delays and challenges.

Leading Light, another proposed offshore wind farm in New Jersey, has also encountered difficulties in completing its plan due to turbine manufacturer issues. The project, led by Invenergy and energyRE, requested delays in its review process after winning approvals for a massive 2.4 GW wind farm.

Despite these setbacks, Atlantic Shores remains optimistic about the future and referred to this period as a “reset.” The company expressed its readiness to deliver on its commitments once the regulatory uncertainties are resolved.

As New Jersey navigates the complexities of offshore wind development, stakeholders are closely monitoring the industry’s progress and the implications for renewable energy goals in the state.

Photo by Bruce Emmlering (Public domain Free Photo)