The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) issued its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for Atlantic Shores’s wind farm projects immediately before Memorial Day Weekend. The proposed offshore wind developments – Project 1 and 2, respectively – will combine for 200 wind turbines sprawled over 100,000 acres of the Jersey Shore’s coastline.
Congressman Van Drew (R, NJ-02) blasted the federal government report.
“Once again, BOEM is recklessly pushing forward with these projects, even after identifying countless devastating impacts on our South Jersey community,” said Van Drew who represents Cape May and Atlantic counties as well as portions of Ocean County. “Their report openly acknowledges major harm to our environment, national defense, fishing industry, supply chain, and tourism, yet they approved it anyways. Governor Murphy and BOEM’s continued push for these projects, despite widespread opposition, shows their blatant disregard for New Jersey families in favor of lining the pockets of foreign wind companies.”
A similar project spearheaded by Orsted collapsed last year amid economic headwinds, a concerted opposition and the green technology’s fundamental flaws. Public opinion also soured as a steady stream of dead marine mammals washed up at all ends of the coast. New Jersey didn’t even get the promised $300 million from the Danish wind giant after the company decided to sail back to Europe, announcing a $125 million settlement on Tuesday, the cherry on the top of a failed relationship.
Van Drew predicted a similar grim fate for Atlantic Shores.
“Orsted made the decision to cancel their planned projects once they realized they were not economically viable or feasible in South Jersey and I expect Atlantic Shores to soon face the same harsh reality,” added the Cape May congressman. “Offshore wind has absolutely no place in South Jersey, and I will never stop fighting until these misguided projects are permanently stopped.”
