TRENTON – Ocean Wind I gained a favorable federal consistency determination from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) April 28, along with four permits for construction from the DEP’s Division of Land Use Protection.
Ørsted’s Head of Government Affairs Maddy Urbish called the permits “significant milestones” as the company looks to begin construction of the Ocean Wind I wind farm.
Ørsted is the sole owner of the Ocean Wind project following its buyout of a 25% interest from Public Service Enterprise Group.
“The issuance of these permits affirms that the proposed plans for Ocean Wind I sufficiently avoid and minimize impacts to New Jersey’s natural resources,” said Ocean Wind’s Permit Manager Katherine Perry.
Additional approvals, including that of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), are still required, but the DEP action moved the Ocean Wind I project closer to construction. Plans have called for the wind farm to be providing energy as early as mid-2024.
These permits come as several groups call for a halt to offshore wind activities due to a spate of sea mammal deaths since early December 2022.
