Members of the public who wish to listen to the hearing and/or offer comment on the record, are not required to register in advance. The virtual platform that will be used for this hearing does not offer a pre-registration option. All requests to comment will be addressed in the order in which they are received by the moderator. Participants who wish to comment will indicate their desire to do so then state their first and last names.
Members of the public may access the link for the event, at https://vhb.zoom.us/j/83906689957?pwd=dFd4b0oxTW5qUEN6cDVLZFNIdlAzdz09, or go to https://zoom.us/join and enter Webinar ID: 839 0668 9957; Passcode: 349434. A dial-in option will be available, as well.
If using one-tap mobile: +16465588656,,83906689957# or for telephone, 646-558-8656; Webinar ID: 839 0668 9957; Passcode: 349434.
The purpose of the hearing will be to receive public comment on the proposed diversion of an approximately +/- 0.838-acre portion of Ocean City-owned parkland. The affected properties owned by the City are as follows:
As to said lands, Ocean Wind has filed a petition with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) pursuant to N.J.S.A. 48:3-87.1(f)(2) to acquire, among other things, permanent rights of way and easements needed to install an underground cable in connection with its proposed Ocean Wind Offshore Wind Farm Project (Project). Once complete, the Project will fulfill the requirements of the State’s Offshore Wind Economic Development Act, which mandates the development of a minimum of 1,100 megawatts (MW) of offshore wind resources. The Project will also contribute to meeting the goals of both Executive Order 8 (2018), which set a goal of 3,500 MW of renewable energy by 2030, and Executive Order 92, which in November 2019 increased the goal to 7,500 MW by 2035. Additional information about the Project may be found at: www.OceanWind.com.
The lands listed above are encumbered by State of New Jersey Green Acres restrictions. Based on the filing of the BPU petition, an application for the major diversion of said lands may be submitted by Ocean Wind to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, for approval by the Department’s Commissioner and by the State House Commission. A public scoping hearing is required by Green Acres’ regulations prior to the submission of any formal application for the diversion of parkland.
You may appear via video conference or by telephone in order to comment on the proposed diversion and/or you may submit written comments. In accordance with Green Acres rules, all written comments must be submitted by March 21, 2022 to Tom Suthard at Orsted Ocean Wind, 600 Atlantic Ave., Suite 2, Atlantic City, New Jersey 08401 or Info@OceanWind.com. A copy of any written comments must also be submitted to the Green Acres Program at BLSSpubliccomments@dep.nj.gov. Please include “Ocean Wind” in the subject line. Email comments are preferred, but comments may also be mailed to: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Green Acres Program, Bureau of Legal Services and Stewardship, 401 East State Street, 7th Floor, Mail Code 401-07B, P.O. Box 420, Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0420 Attn: Ocean Wind Application.