Atlantic City schedules Feb. 5 special meeting after petition against Atlantic Shores wind project draws thousands of signatures

Atlantic City Council scheduled a special meeting for Feb. 5 at 5 p.m. to consider a petition and a resolution to rescind Ordinance 74, which relates to the Atlantic Shores Wind Farm Project, after the city clerk certified a petition and officials said supporters of the petition delivered more than 2,000 signatures.

The council president told the chamber that the city clerk received a certified petition and that a special meeting would be held next Wednesday, Feb. 5, at 5 p.m. The session will include a resolution to rescind Ordinance 74 and will be available on Zoom, the council said. The city indicated council members are willing to meet with proponents after the meeting if there remain unresolved issues.

Why it matters: the petition and the planned rescission address local concerns about routes for onshore cable easements and other local impacts tied to offshore wind construction. Petition organizers and multiple residents said they expect the Feb. 5 meeting to provide a more focused public hearing on those issues.

Public testimony and petition details: Several residents who signed the petition addressed the council during the public-comment portion. Sherry Lillianfeld said residents sought the opportunity to have their voices heard and thanked the council for placing the matter on the special meeting agenda. She noted the petition was certified by the clerk and said the petitioners sought transparency and to have the ordinance rescinded on Feb. 5.

Petitioner Patty Darrow told the council she and others have repeatedly spoken out against offshore wind since 2023 and said the petition represented broad neighborhood opposition. Darrow said the petition gathered 2,092 signatures despite the weather and holiday period and that the organizers exceeded the required threshold of 801 signatures. She told the meeting, "...we still got 2,092 signatures, which was 2 and a half times and required 801, and I believe that's why you realized, like, maybe we really need to listen and thank you again."

Logistics: Council members said the Feb. 5 meeting would be offered in a hybrid format with Zoom access so those unable to attend in person can participate. Council staff said two speakers were to be permitted on the petition subject at the special meeting; council members said they would be willing to meet with petition proponents afterward if questions remained.

What the council did at Mondaynight: the council provided only informational notices during the regular meeting and moved the wind-related procedural item and petition to the Feb. 5 special meeting for formal consideration.

Looking ahead: The Feb. 5 special meeting will include the rescission resolution on its agenda. Organizers and residents urged the council to consider the petition and public testimony carefully at that session.