The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has announced its approval of the Atlantic Shores South project plan to construct and operate two wind energy facilities, furthering the Biden-Harris administration’s goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030. This is the final approval needed from BOEM following the Department of the Interior’s July 2024 Record of Decision.
'The Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to advancing responsible offshore wind energy projects like Atlantic Shores South Wind, which will create good-paying jobs and drive economic growth, while combatting the climate crisis and making our communities more resilient,' said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. 'I am proud to announce BOEM’s final approval of Atlantic Shores South Offshore Wind Projects 1 and 2, which have the potential to generate up to 2,800 megawatts of clean, renewable energy - enough to power nearly one million homes.'
Subsequent to the Record of Decision, the original lease was divided into two separate leases, both approx. 8.7 miles offshore New Jersey at their closest points. The approved construction and operations plan includes up to 197 total locations for wind turbine generators, offshore substations, and a meteorological tower, with subsea transmission cables potentially making landfall in Atlantic City and Sea Girt, providing clean electricity to the New Jersey grid.
BOEM incorporated important feedback from Tribes, government agencies, ocean users, and other interested parties prior to making this approval decision. The feedback resulted in required measures to avoid, minimize, or mitigate any potential impacts from the project on marine life and other important ocean uses, such as fishing.
Under the Biden-Harris administration, the Department of the Interior has approved more than 15 gigawatts of clean energy from ten offshore wind projects, enough to power nearly 5.25 million homes. It has also held five offshore wind lease auctions, including a record-breaking sale offshore New York and New Jersey and the first-ever sales offshore the Pacific and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Earlier this year, Secretary Haaland announced a schedule of potential additional lease sales through 2028.
