ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Shell and EDF Renewables, is seeking to withdraw from its flagship New Jersey offshore wind project just months after publicly reaffirming its dedication to the state’s clean energy goals.
On June 4, the company filed a formal petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities requesting to terminate its Offshore Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) order. The request, if granted, would effectively halt development of the 1.5-gigawatt wind farm located east of Atlantic City that was expected to power roughly 700,000 homes.
The withdrawl request is a major gut punch to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy as the embattled offshore wind architect enters his final months in office.
Earlier this year, Atlantic Shores issued statements positioning itself as a key contributor to New Jersey’s clean energy future. In a February 3 press release, the company said it “stands ready to deliver on the promise of offshore wind” and called its Project 1 “the most competitive and deliverable project proposed in NJ4.” At the time, the firm expressed disappointment after the fourth offshore wind solicitation concluded without awarding any projects.
Just days prior to that release, on January 30, the company stated it was “committed to New Jersey and delivering the Garden State’s first offshore wind project.” It also said it would continue progressing in compliance with obligations under state and federal permits.
Despite those assurances, Atlantic Shores is now looking to exit the development, citing undisclosed reasons for the petition. The Board of Public Utilities has not yet ruled on the request.
Change in course
The project’s cancellation would mark a major shift in New Jersey’s offshore wind ambitions. Project 1 had been considered a cornerstone in the state’s strategy to meet its goal of 100% clean energy by 2035.
In February, the company warned that the failure to approve projects in the state’s fourth solicitation round “clearly puts this goal at risk.” However, no further details have been publicly provided by Atlantic Shores on why it is stepping away from the venture altogether.
Atlantic Shores was awarded the OREC order in June 2021 and had advanced permitting, financing plans, and supply chain investments in place. The project was scheduled to be among the first utility-scale offshore wind farms in the state.
If approved, Atlantic Shores’ exit would join a growing list of U.S. offshore wind setbacks as developers across the industry cite rising costs, supply chain constraints, and shifting market conditions.
