Atlantic Shores to lease 35 acres at emerging port in Lower Alloways Creek for its 1.5-gigawatt project

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind LLC, a major developer in the wind-energy sector, has signed on as a tenant at the New Jersey Wind Port, bolstering the state’s efforts to be a hub for the emerging industry on the Eastern Seaboard.

Atlantic Shores signed a letter of intent with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to lease 35 acres of land at the emerging port in Lower Alloways Creek, Salem County, for its 1.5-gigawatt project. The offshore wind farm will be anchored across from Atlantic City and is projected to provide electricity for 700,000 homes when built.

The $478 million New Jersey Wind Port, now under construction, is central to the state’s bid to attract key segments of the offshore-wind industry to a facility where developers will assemble huge wind turbines and manufacture key components for wind farms. Atlantic Shores’ operation is expected to create 200 jobs.

“Atlantic Shores’ commitment to Salem County affirms the critical importance of the wind port to the nation’s offshore wind industry and toward a more robust, sustainable New Jersey economy,’’ said Gov. Phil Murphy, who announced the commitment at a Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey luncheon in Mount Laurel.

The developer, a 50/50 partnership between Shell New Energies U.S. and EDF Renewables, is the second company to choose the port for assembling and launching offshore-wind projects, according to Tim Sullivan, EDA CEO. “Atlantic Shores clearly recognizes the port’s strategic and tactical advantages,’’ he said.

Atlantic Shores follows Ørsted, the developer that received approval to build two offshore-wind projects from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and signed a letter of intent to use the port’s facilities last April.

Atlantic Shores will lease the port’s land to marshal the resources and materials to build the state’s largest offshore-wind project, the company said. “The location offers outstanding waterside access without barriers to transporting assembled turbines vertically and allows us to tap into New Jersey’s highly skilled talent pool and robust work development programs,’’ said Joris Veldhoven, CEO of Atlantic Shores.

The EDA issued a notice to lease in 2021, attracting 16 offers, demonstrating the demand across the U.S. East Coast for fit-for-purpose port capacity. Negotiations continue with several component manufacturers about establishing turbine factories at the port, and the EDA expects to make further announcements in late 2023.

Last month, Atlantic Shores also announced it had reached agreement with EEW American Offshore Structures, Inc., to build the foundations for offshore wind turbines at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal in South Jersey.