Dead and gone: Trump's most hated offshore wind farm pulls the plug
Atlantic Shores tells regulator that 1.5GW project not viable under hostile policies that saw key permit voided
The offshore wind farm Donald Trump famously said he wanted “dead and gone” has thrown in the towel after admitting it can’t continue under the US president’s hostile agenda.
Atlantic Shores had a deal with New Jersey to supply power to the state from its first 1.5GW project advancing under its joint venture partners, oil giant Shell and French power utility EDF.
The project has now however lodged a request with New Jersey regulators asking to cancel its agreement for offshore renewable energy certificates, stating that it cannot continue towards construction after a series of setbacks caused by Trump’s policies.
The project was then left in limbo when, despite its enquiries, the EPA "provided no communication or announcements regarding what additional review it intends to conduct regarding the Air Permit”, it told the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities in a filing.
“Without the Air Permit, [Atlantic Shores] cannot proceed with construction of the Project as a legal matter.”
The filing adds: “Due to the uncertainty caused by the Presidential Wind Memorandum, the subsequent loss of the Air Permit, and other actions taken by the current administration more generally [Atlantic Shores’] parent company has been forced to materially reduce its personnel, terminate contracts, and cancel planned project investments.”
The filing means that there was no similar reprieve for Atlantic Shores to that secured by the other US project that had a pre-existing permit pulled – Equinor’s Empire Wind, over which Trump performed a U-turn last month.
Atlantic Shores 1 received its federal construction and operations plan (COP) approval in October 2024 under the Biden-Harris administration.
While the decision to make the filing formally marks the end of Atlantic Shores 1 under its current arrangements with the state, the project company in a statement appeared to leave the door open for future progress from its lease areas off the US northeast in future, if the policy weather changes.
“While no ratepayer money or subsidy was spent on Atlantic Shores Project 1, this reset period presents us an opportunity to ensure utility customers continue to get a fair deal for critical infrastructure delivery. And with record demand for electricity outpacing supply, one thing’s for sure: New Jersey needs more power generation.”
Veldhoven added: “Atlantic Shores stands ready to deliver high-capacity factor projects that will safeguard American business interests, support energy security, and improve quality of life for millions of Garden State residents."
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