ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. — A company planning a wind energy farm off New Jersey’s southern coast will deploy two research buoys to study conditions in the area envisioned for its development.
The devices from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind will collect atmospheric and weather data in the area, and track the migration of birds, fish, turtles and other animals that live there. The data will be shared with researchers at Rutgers University.
The buoys are due to be deployed next month.
The research comes as activity ramps up off New Jersey’s coastline to establish wind-powered energy sources.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC is a partnership between Shell New Energies US LLC, and EDF Renewables North America. The joint venture plans to develop more than 183,000 acres located 10 to 20 miles off the New Jersey coast between Atlantic City and Barnegat Light.
Once fully developed, the area has the potential to generate over 3,000 megawatts of wind energy, enough to power nearly 1.5 million homes, the company said.
The buoys initially will collect atmospheric data. In the fall, sensors will be added to collect migration information on turtles, birds, fish and other species, including bats and large insects.
Information expected to be collected includes how quickly they move between specific points, how long they stop and stay in particular areas, and other aspects of their behavior.
The Danish wind developer Orsted plans a wind farm off Atlantic City, called “Ocean Wind.”
In bids last December, Orsted proposed a second project off the state’s coast, named “Ocean 2,” and Atlantic Shores proposed its own project.
The state Board of Public Utilities is reviewing those bids. A decision could come in June.
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