Long Beach Island Municipalities and Brigantine Beach, Represented by Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., Continue to Oppose the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind Project and File Supplemental Public Comments
HACKENSACK, New Jersey (November 3, 2023) –LBI Municipalities and Brigantine Beach, represented by Pashman Stein Walder Hayden P.C., continue to oppose the application filed by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection seeking a federal consistency certification that its proposed offshore wind project off of Long Beach Island is consistent with New Jersey’s coastal policies. A supplemental comment letter was filed on October 23, 2023, on behalf of Long Beach Township, Beach Haven, Ship Bottom, Barnegat Light, Surf City, Harvey Cedars (the “LBI Municipalities”), as well as Brigantine Beach. The initial comment letter was filed on June 29, 2023. Pashman Stein Chair and Managing Partner Michael S. Stein, Partner Frank Huttle and Partner Timothy P. Malone represent the LBI Municipalities and Brigantine Beach.
Huttle stated, “With the news that Orsted has abandoned southern New Jersey projects Ocean Wind 1 and 2, we reiterate our concern that Governor Murphy’s executive orders and public statements, as well as statements by NJDEP and its Commissioner, provide significant doubt as to DEP’s neutrality in reviewing the Atlantic Shores application, and provide at a minimum a perception that the consistency determination’s issuance is predetermined. As such, we continue to vigorously oppose the Atlantic Shores project.”
“We hold the conviction that New Jersey can harness sustainable energy solutions more effectively without succumbing to the industrialization of the ocean. Such actions will, without a doubt, wreak havoc on our local economy and communal fabric. There are smarter, more considerate avenues to explore that protect our state's interests and national natural treasures,” said Joseph Mancini, Mayor of Long Beach Township.
“Orsted states it backed out of the project due to high inflation and soaring interest rates, but the communities of southern New Jersey are surely celebrating the end of the project. We anticipate stopping the Atlantic Shores project as presently proposed too. Particularly with the worsening economy, it is possible to conceive of a project that is halted or abandoned mid-construction, leaving behind a junkyard in our ocean," Mancini added.
Huttle added, "The Atlantic Shores project has been misguided and rushed, and as proposed does not comply with NJDEP’s coastal zone management regulations. The economics of Orsted's decision should be a warning that these projects require much greater analysis and support our argument that the Governor must pause and take a hard look at the viability of the Atlantic Shores project. We have asked for that closer evaluation, and we will continue to fight for additional studies based on current data.”
Stein added, "We will not stop advocating for the protection of the diverse year-round businesses and residential communities of LBI and Brigantine Beach. Along with being a pristine stretch of beaches, and a hub for commercial fishing and tourism, this beautiful area has protected sand dunes, natural refuges for birds on the south of the island, and a historic state park to the north. Our communities demand more evaluation and analysis of any project that threatens our coastline and waterways."
About Pashman Stein Walder Hayden
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is a full-service law firm with a reputation for professional excellence. Headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey, the firm has offices throughout the region in Holmdel, New Jersey; New York, New York; Purchase, New York; and Wilmington, Delaware. The firm serves a diverse client base including Fortune 500 companies, emerging growth entities and entrepreneurial businesses, professional athletes, law firms, judges, lawyers, governmental entities, non-profit organizations, and individuals. As a member of Interlaw, the firm has access to an internationally recognized network of law firms, comprising 7500+ lawyers based in more than 150 cities around the world. Recent firm honors include being named Law Firm of the Year (2023), Litigation Department of the Year General-finalist (2023) and, for five years in a row, awarded Appellate Litigation Department of the Year (2018-2022), by the New Jersey Law Journal; and named 2020 Pro Bono Law firm by the New Jersey State Bar Association. For more information, please visit www.pashmanstein.com The New Jersey Legal Awards are published by the New Jersey Law Journal. A description of the selection methodology can be found at Methodology: New Jersey Legal Awards 2023. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.