Biden Administration Approves Atlantic Shores South Wind Project Off New Jersey

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has granted final approval for the Atlantic Shores South project, marking a significant milestone in offshore wind energy development off the coast of New Jersey.

The approved plan encompasses two wind energy facilities, Atlantic Shores South Offshore Wind Projects 1 and 2, which combined have the potential to generate up to 2,800 megawatts of clean, renewable energy—enough to power nearly one million homes.

BOEM’s decision aligns with the Biden-Harris administration’s ambitious goal of deploying 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030.

“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.

The approved construction and operations plan includes up to 197 total locations for wind turbine generators, offshore substations, and a meteorological tower. The facilities will be located approximately 8.7 miles offshore New Jersey at their closest points, with subsea transmission cables potentially making landfall in Atlantic City and Sea Girt.

“Securing these critical approvals enables New Jersey’s first offshore wind project to start construction next year and represents meaningful progress in New Jersey achieving 100% clean energy by 2035,” said Joris Veldhoven, CEO of Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind.

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind is a 50:50 partnership between Shell New Energies US and EDF-RE Offshore Development, a subsidiary of EDF Renewables North America.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy hailed the announcement as a step towards a clean energy future for the state, stating, “Offshore wind will strengthen our state’s economy through supply chain investments and good-paying, union jobs.”

The Atlantic Shores South project is part of a broader push for offshore wind development under the Biden-Harris administration. To date, the Department of the Interior has approved more than 15 gigawatts of clean energy from ten offshore wind projects, capable of powering nearly 5.25 million homes.