The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is reconsidering an air quality permit for the Atlantic Shores wind energy project, in what may be the Trump administration’s first blow to overturn existing projects on federal offshore leases.
The federal Environmental Appeals Board on Friday issued a remand for the EPA permit, which had been granted Sept. 30 to cover future construction activity on the Atlantic Shores lease area off Long Beach Island and Brigantine, N.J. The permit was appealed to the board by Save Long Beach Island, a local activist group opposed to the proposed array of 197 turbines within nine miles of the beach.
Save LBI originally took its objections to the appeals board Oct. 15. On Feb. 28, EPA officials asked that the Environmental Appeals Board “remand the permit back” so the agency “has the opportunity to reevaluate the Project and its environmental impacts in light of the
The review board's March 14 order notes its move was opposed by Atlantic Shores backers, who earlier saw project partners Shell and EDF Renewables take write-downs of more than $1.9 billion altogether.
Wind power advocates and opponents alike continue to assess how President Trump’s executive order will play out for existing projects. The EPA move could signal aggressive moves to scrap existing permits and approvals. Anti-wind groups are aiming to rescind them and even offshore leases awarded by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, to roadblock any offshore wind revival under a future administration.
