BOEM completes environmental analysis for Ocean Wind 1 offshore New Jersey

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The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management has finished its environmental analysis of the proposed Ocean Wind 1 project that could add up to 1.4 GW of capacity to the grid if all its generators are approved.

BOEM made the final environmental impact statement for the project available Monday. The next step for the project is for BOEM to issue a "record of decision" on whether or not to approve it, which it will do this summer, the agency said in a release.

The agency had first published a draft EIS last June, and received nearly 1,400 comments from stakeholders including tribal nations and commercial fishers.

"BOEM considered these comments and stakeholders' feedback when developing the final EIS, a critical step to ensure the project can move forward while balancing the needs and interests of everyone who may be affected by the development," BOEM said in its release.

Ocean Wind 1 is being developed by Danish energy company Ørsted as a sole venture after Ørsted purchased the Public Service Enterprise Group's 25% stake in the project in January. Ørsted's website says the company expects the project to start providing power in late 2024.

Though Ørsted estimates the farm's capacity will be 1.1 GW, BOEM said its capacity could range from 1.2 to 1.4 GW if all 98 proposed wind turbine generators are approved for installation. The project developers also plan to build up to three offshore substations in the lease area.

The project is 13 miles southeast of Atlantic City, BOEM said, and export cables will make landfall in Ocean and Cape May counties in New Jersey. If it goes through, Ocean Wind 1 will be the third commercial offshore wind project on the Outer Continental Shelf approved by the Biden administration.