Located on Stockton University’s Campus on the Main Boardwalk, the Center Will Serve as a Hub to Inform the Local Public, School Groups on Science Behind Offshore Wind, Company’s Development Plans and the Offshore Wind Industry
Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso, Atlantic Shores Managing Director Christopher Hart, and others attend Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind’s ECO Center Opening.
ATLANTIC CITY,N.J. — On Monday, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (Atlantic Shores) hosted Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small, Sr., President Joseph Fiordaliso and Commissioner Upendra Chivukula of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, and other local stakeholders at a ribbon cutting to signify the opening of their new Educational and Community Outreach (ECO) Center.
The facility on Stockton University’s campus in Atlantic City 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,” said Jennifer Daniels, Development Director at Atlantic Shores. “We are thrilled to have a meeting place in the heart of the very community Atlantic Shores hopes to serve with renewable, affordable offshore wind energy.”
The Educational and Community Outreach 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 dynamic 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. In addition to being an exhibit and conference facility, the ECO Center will also provide several “hoteling” offices with computers, printers and office support, a small, more intimate conference area for Atlantic Shores employees.
“We are very excited at Stockton University to welcome this collaboration,” said Brian Jackson, Chief Operating Officer at Stockton University. “This new center will be a place where our students and faculty can engage in research and internship opportunities, and will also create an opportunity for our local community to gain employment. People are going to want to come to this space to learn about offshore wind.”
In addition to Mayor Small and leaders from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, attendees at the ribbon cutting included Michael Chait, President of Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, and Max Slusher, Director of Business Development for Atlantic County Economic Alliance.
“I’m excited about anything that advances offshore wind and our new clean economy,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph Fiordaliso. “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.”
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.