Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

The Interior Department also announced it is beginning an environmental review of two wind projects proposed off the New Jersey coast. Both of the projects are from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, a partnership of EDF Renewables and Shell New Energies. In June, the state Board of Public Utilities gave the company permission to build a 1,509 MW project, nearly 11 miles offshore . That project plus another that the company is hoping the BPU approves in coming years are now up for review by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, which will look over the plans to construct and operate the two projects. In New Jersey, the state is helping to finance the projects by guaranteeing the power from the projects will be used, part of the statewide goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050.

The Biden administration also wants offshore wind to happen fast. “The Interior Department is moving rapidly to develop a clean energy future with good-paying union jobs. Offshore wind holds enormous potential for our nation, and the wind resources offshore New Jersey are no exception,” Haaland said in a statement. A series of scoping hearings will begin in mid October. A similar review of two BPU-approved wind farms to be built by Ørsted began this spring.