Construction updates


Ocean Wind 1, New Jersey’s first offshore wind farm, will start onshore construction in fall 2023. As the project developer and owner, Ørsted aims to be transparent with residents, businesses, and other stakeholders about construction developments.

On this page, you will find our full construction timeline, maps of construction routes and areas undergoing work, and frequently asked questions. This page will be updated as construction progresses. For the latest information, please see the public notice and updated sections below.

Hotline
For direct support, call us toll-free at 609-450-3047

Project details

There are multiple stages to building an offshore wind farm, including surveys, permitting, onshore construction, and offshore construction. At every stage, Ørsted will work closely with local, state, and federal agencies to ensure that Ocean Wind 1 is built safely, efficiently, and responsibly. 

Onshore construction for Ocean Wind 1 will begin in fall 2023, with our team of contractors working in several areas. We will keep locals informed of where and when construction is happening, and take appropriate safety measures. For this project, we will provide:

  • Notices for project communities
  • Fencing around project workspace and other safety measures
  • Traffic routing and safety markings approved by local permitting authorities
  • Information regarding inclement weather and its impact on construction

Onshore construction for Ocean Wind 1 will be similar to roadwork and construction for typical utility projects. You can find more information about our approach to construction and the areas where we will be building below.

OCW overall project map

Explore construction locations

Marine boat at an offshore wind farm

Weekly marine briefings

Keeping mariners informed

The ocean is a crucial resource shared by many industries. Ørsted aims to create an ecosystem in which offshore wind and fishing can both thrive.

Resources & documents


Want to know more about Ocean Wind 1? Access our scoping presentations, permitting applications, town hall transcripts, regulatory documents, and more. You can also read our project fact sheets, provided in both English and Spanish.  

Monthly updates
Frequently asked questions on construction
  • How does offshore wind energy get to the electrical grid?

    Offshore wind turbines send energy via subsea cables to an offshore substation. Cables laid deep beneath the beach then transfer that energy from offshore substations to onshore substations.

    For Ocean Wind 1, energy from subsea cables will be transferred via transmission line to two onshore converter stations being constructed at the Peck Bay and Lanoka substations. From there, an underground cable will connect the converted energy to the local electrical grid.

  • How did you choose the cable route? Why not take a different route?

    We evaluated several landing locations for Ocean Wind 1, conducting extensive technical and environmental surveys. These surveys enabled us to determine the most efficient routes for cable connections from our offshore wind substations to our onshore substations.

    Based on these assessments, the routes and cable landings shown above have been identified as the preferred routes. Choosing these routes enables us to avoid environmentally sensitive areas and make use of existing rights-of-way where other utilities (e.g., natural gas, sewers) are already located.

    These routes were proposed as part of the project’s Construction and Operations Plan, and approved by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM).

  • Will cable installation disrupt beach access? 

    No. We will use a common technique called horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to drill deep underground without disturbing any surfaces. HDD also allows us to maintain public access throughout the construction process.

  • Will I see the wind turbines from the beach?

    The closest offshore wind turbines will be 15 miles off the coast of southern New Jersey, making them hardly visible. You can review all the distances at which our wind turbines will sit here.

  • Will onshore construction damage the beach environment?
    No. All components will be installed deep underground, using trenchless construction and horizontal directional drilling to avoid impacts. When construction is completed, the only permanent aboveground components will be the converter station and substation, within the Lanoka and Peck Bay substation areas.
  • If I live along the route, will I have road and driveway access during construction?
    Yes. Our construction team will have steel plates on hand to ensure property owners maintain access to their homes and driveways. These steel plates can be installed in minutes, or preinstalled in line with property owners’ schedules.

    To keep residents informed, our project team will provide monthly email notices about the timing of construction near their properties. Members of the field team will provide door-to-door notices to residences as the construction zone expands. Field managers will also be available onsite, acting as a point of contact for residents to discuss access or accommodation needs.

    Further inquiries can be sent to info@oceanwind.com. Our team can also be reached at 609-450-3047.
  • Will Ørsted repair damage resulting from onshore construction activities?
    Yes. All public curbs and streets will be restored to previous conditions. For concerns regarding property damage resulting from onshore construction activities, please call 609-450-3047, or email us at info@oceanwind.com.
  • Is there any oversight? Who ensures that Ørsted does what it says?
    Many state and local regulatory authorities are heavily involved in Ocean Wind 1’s development, including the NJ Board of Public Utilities and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection.

    At the federal level, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management leads a review under the National Environmental Policy Act. Reviewers include the National Marine Fisheries Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, and the Department of Defense, among others.

You have questions.
We have answers. 

We’re here to answer your questions about Ocean Wind 1.

 

For urgent matters, please call 609-450-3047, or email us at info@oceanwind.com.

Understanding offshore wind construction

What exactly goes into constructing an offshore wind farm – and how does clean energy get transported to shore? We explain the phases of siting, building, and operating an offshore wind farm.