Feb 3 (Reuters) - New Jersey's public utility regulator

on Monday said it would not grant awards for new offshore wind

contracts, days after Shell backed out of the only

project that had finalized a bid.

In a statement, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

cited both Shell's withdrawal from

the Atlantic Shores project

and uncertainty regarding federal support for the industry.

"The Board concluded that an award in New Jersey's

fourth offshore wind solicitation, despite the manifold benefits

the industry offers to the state, would not be a responsible

decision at this time," Christine Guhl-Sadovy, president of the

BPU, said in the statement.

Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump

suspended new federal offshore wind leasing

pending an environmental and economic review, saying wind

turbines are ugly, expensive and harm wildlife.