Ocean Wind 1, the state’s first offshore wind project, took a major step forward Friday, when it passed a major state permitting milestone when the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection issued a federal consistency determination, concluding the plans for Ocean Wind 1 are consistent with the enforceable policies of the Coastal Zone Management Program.
The department’s Division of Land Resource Protection also issued the first four permits for construction and operation of Ocean Wind 1: the Waterfront Development Permit, Coastal Areas Facility Review Act Permit, Coastal Wetlands Permit and Freshwater Wetlands Permit.
About Ocean Wind 1
Developed by Ørsted and Public Service Enterprise Group, Ocean Wind 1 will be located 15 miles off the coast of southern New Jersey. At 1,100 megawatts, Ocean Wind 1 will provide clean energy to 500,000 homes in New Jersey, deliver thousands of jobs and advance supply chain initiatives while helping the state meet its clean energy goals.
In simple terms, the federal consistency determination confirms that the DEP agrees that construction of Ocean Wind 1 will be conducted in a manner consistent with the CZMP, while the Division of Land Resource Protection affirms that the proposed plans for Ocean Wind 1 sufficiently avoid and minimize impacts to New Jersey’s natural resources
The CZMP establishes the rules around the use, development and protection of New Jersey’s coastal resources.
“Today’s actions by NJDEP represent significant milestones and critical steps that are needed to advance the state’s first offshore wind project and bring clean, reliable energy and the associated economic benefits to the region,” Maddy Urbish, co-developer Ørsted’s head of government affairs and market strategy, New Jersey, said.
Additional federal, state and local approvals, in addition to approval from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, are required before construction on Ocean Wind 1 can begin.
