ConservAmerica Files Public Comments on Ocean Wind 1 Environmental Impact Statement

ConservAmerica President Jeff Kupfer submitted the following public comment letter on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) analysis for Ocean Wind 1 off the coast of New Jersey. Download the full letter here.

August 23, 2022

Program Manager
Office of Renewable Energy
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
45600 Woodland Road
Sterling, Virginia 20166

Re: Ocean Wind 1 DEIS

Dear Director Lefton:

ConservAmerica appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) analysis for Ocean Wind 1. ConservAmerica is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting commonsense, market based and fiscally responsible solutions to today’s environmental and energy challenges.

Our organization is focused on fostering relationships between policymakers and stakeholders to protect the environment and to support economic development, as well as facilitating access to clean, abundant and affordable energy. We believe in the development of renewable energy and the reduction of carbon emissions. As such, we are pleased to support the Ocean Wind 1 project.

The Bureau’s DEIS is a comprehensive and thorough review of the various alternatives for the project.  We are encouraged that the DEIS found there are negligible, minor adverse, or beneficial impacts on resources such as air quality, birds, bats, coastal habitat/fauna, economics, land use/coastal infrastructure, sea turtles, and water quality.

As New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm, Ocean Wind 1 will contribute significantly to the state’s ambitious renewable energy goals. It will provide enough clean energy to power an average of 500,000 homes annually. It is a critical component for accomplishing New Jersey’s goal of producing 7.5 GW of offshore wind energy by 2035 and President Biden’s national goal of 30 GW of offshore wind energy by 2030.

ConservAmerica values solutions that promote public-private partnerships. The developers of Ocean Wind 1 have committed to spending nearly $700 million in New Jersey, creating hundreds of jobs and  contributing to the development of several different facilities in the state.

For example, the first monopile assembly facility in the U.S. will be constructed at the Port of Paulsboro. Similarly, the project will be the first lessee at the New Jersey Wind Port,  In Atlantic City, an operations and maintenance base will create dozens of high-skilled jobs during the project’s year lifespan.

We note that BOEM’s proposed action alternatives have no materially different environmental impacts than Ocean Wind 1’s design. Moreover, the DEIS  demonstrates that the “No Action Alternative” should not be pursued. Under the No Action Alternative, the benefits of the project, which include better air quality, the reduction of greenhouse gasses, local job creation, and additional tax revenues, would not happen.

We appreciate BOEM’s diligence in preparing the DEIS and reviewing public comments.  For all the reasons stated above, ConservAmerica supports Ocean Wind 1.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Kupfer

President