Other Agencies with Actions or Authorizations:

Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Regulatory

Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service

Environmental Protection Agency

Department of the Army, US Army Corps of Engineers - Civil Works

Description:

Ocean Wind, LLC intends to construct, operate and maintain a commercial-scale offshore wind energy facility located approximately 15 miles off the coast of New Jersey within Lease Area OCS-A 0498 (the “Ocean Wind 1 Project”). The Ocean Wind 1 Project, consisting of up to 98 wind turbine generators (WTG), inter-array cables, up to three Offshore Substations (OSS), two onshore substations, and two transmission cable routes making landfall in Ocean County, New Jersey and Cape May County, New Jersey,  is intended to fulfill the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’ (BPU) September 20, 2018, solicitation for 1,100 MW of offshore wind capacity, and a corresponding Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) allowance of 4,851,489 MW-hours per year was awarded to Ocean Wind via BPU on June 21, 2019 (BPU Docket No. QO18121289, In the Matter of the Board of Public Utilities Offshore Wind Solicitation for 1,100 MW – Evaluation of the Offshore Wind Applications). The Ocean Wind 1 Project would contribute to New Jersey’s goal of 7.5 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind energy generation by 2035 as outlined in New Jersey Governor’s Executive Order No. 92, issued on November 19, 2019. 

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) request to extend the Endangered Species Act Consultation completion date on September 23, 2022. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) request to extend the EFH consultation and Endangered Species Act Consultation completion date on November 18, 2022. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) request to extend the Endangered Species Act Consultation completion date on December 16, 2022. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) request to extend the Construction and Operations Plan, Environmental Impact Statement, and Section 106 completion date on January 31, 2023. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) request to extend the Section 10/404 (USACE), Section 408 (USACE), MMPA (NMFS), OCS Air Permit (EPA) completion date on April 21, 2023. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) request to extend the MMPA (NMFS) completion date on August 02, 2023. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

The Executive Director granted a Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) request to extend the OCS Air Permit final completion date on November 30, 2023. The Executive Director determination is posted here.

UPDATE:

On January 19, 2024 Ocean Wind LLC requested a suspension of the operations term of Lease OCS-A 0498 until the earlier of: (1) the date that is two years after BOEM’s issuance of a suspension order; or (2) such date that BOEM specifies if it grants a request by the Lessee that BOEM lift the suspension order sooner. Further, the Lessee has requested that BOEM suspend all deadlines and schedules in the Lessee’s approved Construction and Operations Plan (“COP”) for the Ocean Wind 1 Offshore Wind Project (“Project”), and in BOEM’s September 21, 2023, Conditions of Construction and Operations Plan Approval (“COP Approval”), for so long as Renewable Energy Lease Number OCS-A 0498’s Operations Term is suspended.

On February 29, 2024, BOEM approved a two-year lease suspension to Ocean Wind LLC for renewable energy lease number OCS-A 0498. A lease or grant suspension extends the term of the lease or grant. During a suspension, activities may not be conducted on the lease or grant except as otherwise expressly authorized under the terms of the lease or grant suspension granted by BOEM. BOEM will consider any requests for an early termination of the suspension consistent with the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (OCSLA), the regulations in 30 C.F.R. Part 585 Subpart D, and the terms of the lease. Any such requests must be made in writing.

When the project sponsor elects to submit a request to lift the suspension early, BOEM will have 60-days from receipt to remove the project from paused status. Otherwise, the status will automatically shift back to “In Progress” after February 28, 2026.