Dr.G.R.Balakrishnan Jul 05 2024 Marine News (Ocean and Offshore Energy)

U.S. Approves Atlantic Shores South Offshore Wind Project

The Department of the Interior has greenlit the Atlantic Shores South offshore wind energy project, marking the nation’s ninth commercial-scale offshore wind energy project under President Biden’s administration.

The approval brings the total approved offshore wind capacity to over 13 gigawatts, equivalent to powering nearly five million homes.

The Atlantic Shores South wind project will include two wind energy facilities, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project 1 and 2, which will generate up to 2,800 megawatts of electricity, enough to power nearly one million homes. Situated approximately 8.7 miles offshore New Jersey, the project will feature up to 200 wind turbine generators and up to ten offshore substations, with subsea transmission cables potentially making landfall in Atlantic City and Sea Girt, New Jersey. BOEM has approved the construction of up to 195 wind turbine generators.

Since the Biden-Harris administration took office, BOEM has conducted four offshore wind energy lease sales and announced up to 12 additional lease sales through 2028. The approval of the Atlantic Shores South project is backed by a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) that analyzed potential environmental impacts and incorporated feedback from public meetings and consultations.

“The Biden-Harris administration is building momentum every day for our clean energy future, and today’s milestone is yet another step toward our ambitious goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore energy by 2030,” stated Secretary Deb Haaland.