Oil and gas giant Shell is walking away from a major project off the coast of New Jersey.

Shell told The Associated Press it is writing off the project, citing increased competition, delays and a changing market.

“Naturally we also take regulatory context into consideration,” spokesperson Natalie Gunnell said in an email.

Shell co-owns the large Atlantic Shores project, which has most of its permits and would generate enough power for 1 million homes if both of the two phases were completed. That’s enough for one-third of New Jersey households.

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News 12 New Jersey spoke with Republican Rep. Chris Smith about Shell’s decision.

“We have to ensure that the project is dead. You know, I've been asking the hardest questions about how these offshore poles and the spinning of the poles will cause irreparable damage to radar. You know, of course, it'll eviscerate our environmental system, particularly below the water, whether the whales or the entire ecosystem, and the impact on the shore itself will be catastrophic,” Smith said.

The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.

The News12 NJ's Power and Politics news segment aired on Feb. 1-2. The above text was published online Jan. 31, 2025
and can be found at:
https://newjersey.news12.com/shell-walks-away-from-major-new-jersey-offshore-wind-farm