SEA GIRT, N.J. — 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 is nonetheless being cleaned up.
The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Vitality Administration permitted Atlantic Shores’ plan to assemble and function an vitality facility, a significant milestone in shifting the venture ahead. The venture nonetheless requires a assessment by the U.S. Military Corps of Engineers, and several other state permits, the corporate stated.
The venture, consisting of two phases, could be constructed between Atlantic Metropolis and Lengthy Seashore Island in southern New Jersey. It could 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 ample clear energy to serve one third of New Jersey households,” stated Joris Veldhoven, the corporate’s CEO. “Securing these essential approvals allows New Jersey’s first offshore wind venture to begin building subsequent 12 months, and represents significant progress in New Jersey attaining 100% clear vitality 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 stated that it’s going to not construct proper as much as that line and that the closest generators can 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 Improvement LLC.
“Responsibly developed offshore wind is a essential part in a clear vitality future, which is able to combat local weather change, create union jobs and enhance the air high quality in overburdened communities,” stated Ed Potosnak, government director of the New Jersey League of Conservation Voters.
Offshore wind foes, who’re significantly vocal and well-organized in New Jersey, vowed to attempt to preserve the venture from ever being constructed.
“We perceive this improvement could be devastating for the marine and coastal habitats, and it could destroy the Jersey Shore as we all know it,” stated Robin Shaffer, president of Defend Our Coast NJ.
BOEM stated the ability cables for the venture will “probably” come ashore in Atlantic Metropolis and Sea Girt.
That risk has angered residents of Sea Girt, a rich Jersey Shore neighborhood about seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Asbury Park, resulting from considerations that its route would run by way of two federal Superfund websites the place underground poisonous contamination from former dry cleansing operations remains to be being cleaned up.
The route proposed by way of Sea Girt would possible take the cable by way of contamination on the former White Swan and Solar cleaners websites in neighboring Wall Township the place chemical compounds 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 frontrunner of a Sea Girt-based residents group opposing the cable touchdown venture; it takes no place on offshore wind vitality itself.
“It is simply frequent sense that when you’ve gotten a Superfund web site nonetheless in remediation and the bottom water remains to be contaminated, you should not be messing round there,” she stated. “While 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, stated the company is conscious of considerations in regards to the websites.
“We perceive that the general public believes there could possibly be dangers related to operating electrical cables by way of areas with site-related groundwater contamination,” he stated. “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 continuing 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 ability grid about 9 miles west in Howell Township. It stated that call is for the corporate ultimately chosen to construct the venture, in session with native governments.
However New Jersey handed a legislation in 2021 stripping native governments of most management over the place and the way energy traces from offshore wind vitality initiatives come ashore.
“Ought to the positioning turn into part of the longer term (cable route venture), all federally-mandated web site remediation measures can be adopted,” the board stated in a press release.
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