New Jersey Group Sues to Block Offshore Wind Farm

Save Long Beach Island (Save LBI) has filed a lawsuit against multiple federal agencies and the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind project, claiming inadequate assessments of environmental impacts, particularly concerning the endangered North Atlantic right whale. The lawsuit alleges violations of several federal statutes, including the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, asserting that federal agencies failed to consider critical information regarding the project's potential harm to marine life and ecosystems. The project, approved by the Biden administration, is set to be located approximately 9 miles off New Jersey's coast and aims to generate significant clean energy. Save LBI's attorney, Thomas Stavola Jr., contends that the federal approvals were based on arbitrary assumptions that ignored potential injurious impacts from construction activities. While Atlantic Shores maintains compliance with regulations and a commitment to minimizing risks to wildlife, opponents continue to raise concerns about the offshore wind industry's impact on marine environments and local economies. The lawsuit is part of a broader trend of legal challenges against offshore wind projects amid heightened scrutiny of their ecological consequences.