It’s time to formally ask questions for the environmental review of Ørsted’s proposed wind farm off the coast.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has invited the public and public officials to offer their comments and questions about Ocean Wind, the project that could erect up to 99 wind turbines off the coast of Cape May and Atlantic counties.
This question and comment deadline is part of the “Scoping” phase of the project.
Whether you support or oppose the wind farm, we urge local residents to ask questions that the Danish company will have to answer in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
As officials from Ørsted have said in a recent interview with the Sentinel, what is going to decide the fate of the project is determining whether the benefits from the renewable energy of a wind farm outweigh the negatives. The officials say this project is not a done deal because there is an extensive review of the project that must be done.
Politically, it is clear that offshore wind turbine projects have momentum with the support of New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and President Joe Biden.
Keep in mind that on Monday, officials from Ørsted and a steel pipe manufacturer, EEW, announced they are a step closer to opening a manufacturing facility in Paulsboro to construct the monopiles on which wind turbines would be held in the ocean. Back in December, Murphy said there was a $250 million investment in that project. A groundbreaking for that facility has taken place. If investors are already putting money into a component of wind turbines, you can bet there is supreme confidence that offshore wind projects are moving forward.
Keep in mind that Ocean Wind is only one project. There is another, Atlantic Shores, that is proposed directly north of Ocean Wind, from north of Atlantic City up to the north end of Long Beach Island. Ocean Wind would be visible from most shore communities in Atlantic and Cape May counties, even though the closest wind turbines would be 15 miles from the coast. The state Board of Public Utilities is already seeking bids for a third project, Ocean Wind II, that would bring more turbines south of Ocean Wind extending south beyond Cape May.
Ocean City Council and a citizens group, Save Our Shores NJ, have been weighing in against the project. Environmental groups, including the largest, the Sierra Club, have shown their support.
The Sentinel has been running a series of articles from opponents, supporters and Ørsted officials about Ocean Wind in an effort for readers to learn as much as they can to make up their own minds about the project. We believe residents – and public officials – should read up and do their own homework so they can make an informed decision on whether these offshore wind farms would be a benefit or a detriment to southern New Jersey.
For now, however, the deadline of April 29 is approaching quickly.
That is when comments and questions must be postmarked or received by BOEM.
To submit comments online, go through the regulations.gov web portal: Navigate to https://www.regulations.gov and search for Docket No. BOEM-2021-0024. Click on the “Comment Now!” Button to the right of the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit.”
To submit comments by mail, enclosed in an envelope labeled “Ocean Wind COP EIS” and addressed to the Program Manager, Office of Renewable Energy, Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, 45600 Woodland Road, Sterling, VA 20166.
According to BOEM, comments should be received or postmarked no later than April 29. If comments contain confidential or sensitive information or to obtain more information on the Project of BOEM’s policies associated with the NOI (Notice Of Intent), contact January Travel at OceanWindsection106@icf.com or (415) 677-7107.
The timing is important, according to BOEM.
In a letter soliciting comments, the federal officials write, “While comments can be submitted at any time, we encourage you to submit your comments during the scoping comment period, thus allowing BOEM to consider them in the development of the Draft EIS.”
In other words, getting those comments and questions on the record by April 29 means the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will be able to use them as it creates the Environmental Impact Statement about Ocean Wind.
