The federal authorities gave a key approval Tuesday to an offshore wind farm in New Jersey, at the same time as residents within the city the place its energy cable would come ashore fear it may undergo underground poisonous waste that’s nonetheless being cleaned up.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Vitality Administration accepted Atlantic Shores’ plan to assemble and function an power facility, a serious milestone in shifting the venture ahead. The venture nonetheless requires a evaluate by the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers, and a number of other state permits, the corporate mentioned.
The project, consisting of two phases, could be constructed between Atlantic Metropolis and Lengthy Seaside Island in southern New Jersey. It will generate 2,800 megawatts from 197 generators, sufficient to energy 1 million houses.
“Atlantic Shores is thrilled to obtain approval to construct our first two initiatives and ship adequate clear energy to serve one third of New Jersey households,” mentioned Joris Veldhoven, the corporate’s CEO. “Securing these important approvals permits New Jersey’s first offshore wind venture to start out development subsequent yr, and represents significant progress in New Jersey attaining 100% clear power by 2035.”
The federal authorities says the venture could be about 8.7 miles (14 kilometers) from the shore at its closest level. However the firm has beforehand mentioned that it’ll not construct proper as much as that line and that the closest generators will probably be at the least 12.8 miles (20 kilometers) from shore.
Atlantic Shores is a joint partnership between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF-RE Offshore Growth LLC.
“Responsibly developed offshore wind is a important part in a clear power future, which is able to battle local weather change, create union jobs and enhance the air high quality in overburdened communities,” mentioned Ed Potosnak, govt director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
Offshore wind foes, who’re notably vocal and well-organized in New Jersey, vowed to attempt to hold the venture from ever being constructed.
“We perceive this growth could be devastating for the marine and coastal habitats, and it could destroy the Jersey Shore as we all know it,” mentioned Robin Shaffer, president of Shield Our Coast NJ.
BOEM mentioned the facility cables for the venture will “probably” come ashore in Atlantic Metropolis and Sea Girt.
That chance has angered residents of Sea Girt, a rich Jersey Shore group about seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Asbury Park, on account of considerations that its route would run via two federal Superfund websites the place underground poisonous contamination from former dry cleansing operations remains to be being cleaned up.
The route proposed via Sea Girt would seemingly take the cable via contamination on the former White Swan and Solar cleaners websites in neighboring Wall Township the place chemical substances leached into the soil and contaminated underground water in a large space together with Sea Girt. Greater than 300 dump truck a great deal of contaminated soil have been faraway from the positioning, and a floor water therapy system has been designed that may function for at the least 30 years.
Kimberly Paterson is a pacesetter of a Sea Girt-based residents group opposing the cable touchdown venture; it takes no place on offshore wind power itself.
“It’s simply widespread sense that when you’ve gotten a Superfund website nonetheless in remediation and the bottom water remains to be contaminated, you shouldn’t be messing round there,” she mentioned. “If you begin digging, you stand an excellent probability of disturbing this plume of contamination. It appears to be all danger and no reward.”
Elias Rodriguez, a spokesman for the U.S. Environmental Safety Company, which administers the federal Superfund cleanup initiatives, mentioned the company is conscious of considerations concerning the websites.
“We perceive that the general public believes there could possibly be dangers related to operating electrical cables via areas with site-related groundwater contamination,” he mentioned. “EPA will work with the (New Jersey Division of Environmental Safety) to verify related officers are conscious of those considerations. EPA will proceed to take acceptable steps to make sure that the continued cleanup is protected.”
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities doesn’t plan to authorize a selected route for the cable to attach with the facility grid about 9 miles west in Howell Township. It mentioned that call is for the corporate ultimately chosen to construct the venture, in session with native governments.
However New Jersey handed a regulation in 2021 stripping local governments of most control over the place and the way energy traces from offshore wind power initiatives come ashore.
“Ought to the positioning change into part of the longer term (cable route venture), all federally-mandated website remediation measures will probably be adopted,” the board mentioned in a press release.
—Wayne Parry, Related Press
