BOEM Completes Key Environmental Review for Offshore Wind Farms in NY and NJ

The comprehensive assessment aims to bolster offshore wind energy, supporting the national goal of deploying 30 GW by 2030.

MORRISTOWN, NJ – The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) has finalized its environmental review of potential offshore wind development across six lease areas in the New York Bight, covering over 488,000 acres off the coasts of New York and New Jersey. This milestone supports the Biden-Harris administration's target of establishing 30 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

"BOEM has collected input from Tribes, Federal and state government agencies, local communities, ocean users, and key stakeholders as part of our comprehensive environmental review," said BOEM Director Elizabeth Klein. "We appreciate the feedback we have received, and we believe our regional approach will provide a solid baseline for future environmental reviews for any proposed offshore wind projects in the New York Bight."

The completed Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) anticipates that these developments could produce up to 7 GW of wind energy—sufficient to power nearly two million homes. This projection comes after a historic auction in February 2022, where over $4.3 billion was raised, marking the largest sum ever for a U.S. offshore energy lease, whether renewable or conventional.

The PEIS, a first of its kind, assesses the potential environmental impacts of proposed wind activities within these areas and outlines measures to avoid, minimize, mitigate, and monitor any adverse effects. These strategies include 58 previously applied measures and eight new approaches aimed at reducing environmental impacts.

BOEM's extensive public engagement process, which included public meetings and regional environmental justice forums from 2022 to early 2024, was instrumental in shaping the final document. Input was gathered from Tribal Nations, local communities, government partners, and ocean users, culminating in 1,568 unique comments from 560 submissions. This collaborative approach was supported by funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.

With the "Notice of Availability of a Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Expected Wind Energy Development in the New York Bight" set to be published in the Federal Register on October 25, 2024, the project moves closer to fruition.

This environmental review is part of a broader effort by the Department of the Interior under the Biden-Harris administration, which has already approved over 15 GW of clean energy from ten offshore wind projects and conducted five offshore wind lease auctions. These initiatives not only aim to reduce dependency on fossil fuels but also stimulate economic growth and environmental sustainability in coastal communities across the United States.