Public comment is being sought on an application by Atlantic Shores LLC for a Department of Army permit for the installation and maintenance of two offshore wind energy facilities and the necessary support infrastructures in federal waters at least 7.7 nautical miles, or 8.7 statute miles, east of Atlantic City.

In its initial round of funding, the Trust provided grants totaling nearly $450,000 to six small, women-owned and minority-owned businesses. In 2022, the Trust awarded $3.9 million to seven municipalities in support of coastal infrastructure and resiliency projects.

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) announced today that it has completed its environmental analysis of the proposed Ocean Wind 1 wind project offshore New Jersey. BOEM said Ocean Wind could power up to a 500,000 homes with clean renewable energy.

The growth of American offshore wind offers us a generational chance not just to bolster our energy independence and protect us from pollution, it will deliver high-wage, permanent careers to Americans. And if we work together, we can use training programs like Wind Power Ready to train and recruit those who have been left out of great careers in the past.

As a South Jersey lawmaker, I must underscore that this is a critical once-in-a-generation opportunity for our region to propel forward by becoming a national leader in the development of offshore wind. The synergy of economic benefits in South Jersey and enhancing our path toward achieving renewable energy goals is a true win-win that we must embrace. 

“So-called ‘once in a century’ storms are occurring a lot more than every hundred years,” said Congressman Pascrell. “The BOEM has rightly put forward a draft environmental study to accelerate wind energy development in our state. The expected benefits to the state are beautiful: the Atlantic Shores projects are expected to create more than 22,000 new full-time jobs and power nearly 1 million homes."

Most of the attendees seemed to support wind farms off the Jersey Shore. The majority were clearly for green energy, saying something had to be done in regard to climate change. There seemed to be a general consensus that the effects of climate change are not just something that has to be feared in the future. Flooding, for example, is already a problem,

On Chat Box, David Cruz talks with former Senate President Steve Sweeney about his support of expanding offshore wind technology, the upcoming legislative races and his potential run for governor in 2025.

Offshore wind farm construction will provide job opportunities for New Jersey residents, and the universities and county colleges can help in the training process to prepare workers for these jobs, more than 200 South Jersey business leaders heard at a conference on the topic last week.

Offshore wind for the United States is hitting its stride, with 32 leases and 51,377 MW of expected capacity in the works. This would be the equivalent of powering more than 20 million homes. Attached to such rapid expansion is a boost to the economy as well, with a separate report from 2020 crediting the development, construction, and operation of these projects leading to up to $25 billion in potential economic output per year and up to 83,000 jobs by 2030.