Van Drew Slams BOEM’s Environmental Impact Statement of Offshore Wind

May 24, 2024 — Congressman Van Drew issued the following statement in response to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s (BOEM) release of its Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Atlantic Shores Project 1 and 2 offshore wind projects. The completion of these projects would result in up to 200 wind turbines covering over 100,000 acres of the Jersey coast.

“Once again, BOEM is recklessly pushing forward with these projects, even after identifying countless devastating impacts on our South Jersey community,” said Congressman Van Drew. “Their report openly acknowledges major harm to our environment, national defense, fishing industry, supply chain, and tourism, yet they approved it anyways. Governor Murphy and BOEM’s continued push for these projects, despite widespread opposition, shows their blatant disregard for New Jersey families in favor of lining the pockets of foreign wind companies. Orsted made the decision to cancel their planned projects once they realized they were not economically viable or feasible in South Jersey and I expect Atlantic Shores to soon face the same harsh reality. Offshore wind has absolutely no place in South Jersey, and I will never stop fighting until these misguided projects are permanently stopped.”

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