Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a 50/50 partnership between Shell New Energies U.S. LLC and EDF Renewables North America, has hosted members of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and other local stakeholders at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of their new Educational and Community Outreach (ECO) Center.
The facility on Stockton University’s campus in Atlantic City, N.J., will serve as Atlantic Shores’ primary location to host informational events for the community. Atlantic Shores plans to partner with Stockton University to make the ECO Center available to local school groups or as a resource center for university students.
“We anticipate to listen and meet with stakeholders at this location because we know it’s important for the Atlantic City community to have access to us right where they live,” says Jennifer Daniels, development director at Atlantic Shores.
“We are thrilled to have a meeting place in the community Atlantic Shores hopes to serve with renewable, affordable offshore wind energy,” she adds.
The ECO Center features two conference rooms that can be used to host community meetings and an additional open concept space for larger events and public presentations. The ECO Center will function primarily as a public exhibition space and multi-purpose community room to host local stakeholders and communicate Atlantic Shores’ priorities and goals through exhibits, photos and interactive models.
“I’m excited about anything that advances offshore wind and our new clean economy,” says Joseph Fiordaliso, president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
“Thank you to Atlantic Shores and Stockton University for their work ensuring the green economy is here to stay in New Jersey. We have to educate people, and ensure the fact that everyone is involved in the clean energy revolution here in the state of New Jersey,” he adds.
This summer, Atlantic Shores completed its geophysical and geotechnical ocean surveying, including the mapping of potential export cable routes that would bring its generated electricity on land. The developer is currently exploring wind conditions within its lease area and will conduct additional environmental studies this summer and fall.
Photo: The ECO Center’s ribbon-cutting ceremony
