Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind has formally requested the cancellation of its 1.5GW offshore wind project planned off the coast of Atlantic City, citing a combination of economic pressures and federal permitting challenges. The petition was submitted to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU).
The developer, a joint venture between Shell and EDF Renewables North America, was progressing with plans to build a 2.8GW wind farm comprising 197 turbines off Long Beach Island and Brigantine, New Jersey. The project had previously been approved for Offshore Renewable Energy Certificates (ORECs), a key step in enabling long-term power purchase agreements and financing.
In its filing, Atlantic Shores attributed the decision to a mix of financial and regulatory difficulties. The company pointed to continued inflation, supply chain disruptions, and rising capital costs, as well as a permitting freeze initiated during the Trump administration. The developers said that the situation was further complicated in March 2025 when the administration rescinded an air quality permit critical to project construction.
The company cited the Presidential Wind Memorandum and a broader shift in federal policy as key sources of uncertainty, leading to the loss of the air permit and the suspension of other project-related approvals. In its petition, Atlantic Shores stated that these developments had forced its parent companies to reduce staffing, terminate supplier contracts, and halt further investment in the project.
The cancellation request marks a significant reversal in New Jersey's offshore wind plans, as Atlantic Shores had been considered a flagship initiative within the state’s renewable energy targets. The BPU is currently reviewing the petition and has not yet issued a decision.
