New Jersey has abandoned plans for a fourth offshore wind solicitation, effectively killing the proposed Atlantic Shores project after Shell withdrew as an equity partner.
The decision by state utility planners shatters Gov. Phil Murphy’s long-running ambitions to shift the state’s power production to wind power and other renewables.
For now, it’s a victory for New Jersey commercial fishermen. The fishing industry’s cautious approach years ago – even supporting a small pilot project called Fishermen’s Energy, for five wind turbines off the beach at Atlantic City – soured as the federal and Northeast state governments escalated proposals for much bigger turbine arrays near fishing grounds.
Atlantic Shores would have been the remaining flagship project, after Ørsted abruptly cancelled its Ocean Wind plan in late 2023 amid soaring costs.
Both projects fanned opposition from the fishing industry. The East Coast surf clam and…
