The U.S. Department of the Interior announced approval of an offshore wind project off New Jersey, on July 5. This is the third offshore wind project approved by the Biden-Harris administration.
“Since Day One, the Biden-Harris administration has worked to jump-start the offshore wind industry across the country – and today’s approval for the Ocean Wind 1 project is another milestone in our efforts to create good-paying union jobs while combatting climate change and powering our nation. By working closely with state and local leaders, Tribes, ocean users, and other stakeholders, we are moving forward with responsible clean energy development that will benefit communities, while also mitigating potential impacts on the environment or marine life," Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said, according to a press release issued on July 5.
The approved project is the Ocean Wind 1 project, situated 13 nautical miles southeast of Atlantic City, New Jersey, according to the release. The project has “an estimated capacity of 1,100 megawatts of clean energy.” It could power more than 300,000 homes and create more than 3,000 jobs. The project includes the creation and installation of up to 98 wind turbines and a limit of three offshore substations, according to the news release.
In the Record of Decision, there are environmental impact statements, a site assessment plan, and lease assignments there, according to the Federal Register of Aug. 5, 2022. The draft environmental impact statement had an extended public comment period. It was first announced on June 24, 2023, and invited public comment on the construction and operations plan, as well as the draft environmental impact statement itself.
"Ocean Wind 1 represents another significant step forward for the offshore wind industry in the United States. The project's approval demonstrates the federal government's commitment to developing clean energy and fighting climate change and is a testament to the state of New Jersey's leadership in supporting sustainable sources of energy and economic development for coastal communities," Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Director Elizabeth Klein said, according to the release.
"Construction is already underway on two wind projects off the coasts of Massachusetts and New York. Today’s announcement gives the green light for the construction of another. This project, off the coast of New Jersey, will supply enough energy on its own to power nearly half a million homes. This massive expansion in clean energy construction didn’t just happen. It’s not an accident. It’s Bidenomics in action. Big, bold, and building things,” White House National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi said, according to the release.
This and previously approved wind energy projects are part of the Biden Administration’s strategy to achieve a goal of the development of 30 gigawatts of clean, renewable wind energy by 2030. A fact sheet on the strategy notes that the administration aims for wind energy areas off of every coast, made in America supply chains and port infrastructure upgrades that can help to achieve the floating wind offshore targets and the administration’s goals.
