Offshore Wind Ventures 1 and 2 of Atlantic Shores: New Jersey's initial offshore wind undertaking axed
In a setback for New Jersey's clean energy aspirations, the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Projects 1 and 2 have been put on hold. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) terminated the projects' Original Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) order in August 2025, following the developer's request for termination due to regulatory, financial, and market challenges.
The projects, initially slated to generate up to 2,800 megawatts of clean renewable energy, enough to power more than a third of the more than 3 million homes in New Jersey, are now in limbo. The wind turbine area for both sites totals 102,124 acres (413.3 km2), making them a significant step towards helping New Jersey achieve its 100% clean energy goal by 2035.
The pause in the projects can be attributed to several key factors. In January 2025, a federal executive order (the "Wind Memorandum") by President Trump halted new and renewed offshore wind permits, introducing regulatory uncertainty. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency also requested remand of necessary air permits, further delaying approvals.
Inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain issues, and geopolitical challenges, including the war in Ukraine, have also impacted the project economics. As a result, attempts to re-bid in New Jersey’s fourth offshore wind solicitation in mid-2024 were canceled by BPU in early 2025 due to these uncertainties.
Senator George Helmy believes that offshore wind has the potential to play a key role in transitioning New Jersey to a clean energy economy. The termination of the Atlantic Shores Projects 1 and 2, however, represents a setback to these plans.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, the developer, has referred to the termination as a "pause" or "reset period," indicating potential intent to revive the projects if conditions improve. As of August 2025, there is no announced concrete timeline for resuming construction or completion.
The Atlantic Shores Projects 1 and 2, if successful, would be the largest offshore wind farm in the US. The projects will consist of up to 10 offshore substations, one meteorological tower, up to four temporary meteorological and oceanographic buoys, inter-array cables, up to two onshore substations, one operations and maintenance facility, and up to eight transmission cables.
The projects, which will deliver zero-carbon energy to New Jersey, are expected to spur billions of dollars in economic investment in the state and contribute to job creation for its people. The first facility, Atlantic Shores Project 1, will hold between 105-136 wind turbine generators, and the second facility, Atlantic Shores Project 2, will hold between 64-95 wind turbine generators.
Environmental considerations have been part of the approval process for the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind projects. The projects, if completed, will contribute significantly to New Jersey’s clean energy goals, including reducing carbon emissions and helping achieve 100% clean energy by 2035.
Despite the current halt, the potential benefits of the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Projects 1 and 2 remain compelling. If conditions improve, the projects could once again move forward, providing a significant boost to New Jersey's clean energy transition.
- The delay in the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Projects 1 and 2 is attributed to regulatory uncertainty, air permit delays, and economic challenges such as inflation, rising interest rates, and geopolitical issues.
- The termination of the Atlantic Shores Projects 1 and 2 is a setback for New Jersey's environmental-science-driven goal of achieving 100% clean energy by 2035, as the projects would have generated a significant amount of clean renewable energy.
- The Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Projects 1 and 2, if successful, would not only generate large amounts of zero-carbon energy but also spur economic growth and job creation in New Jersey's construction and finance industries.
- The environmental impact of the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind projects has been considered during the approval process, making the projects a significant step forward in addressing the energy sector's contribution to climate change within the space-and-astronomy context of planetary preservation.
