NJ Board of Public Utilities releases offshore wind progress report
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) detailed the state’s progress in developing offshore wind energy in a new report released this week.
The board is tracking progress since Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order early last year directing the NJBPU to fully implement the state’s Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA).
Since then, the board has solicited bids for the first 1,100 MW of offshore wind, the largest state solicitation to date. That includes the opening of the largest single state solicitation in the nation on Sept. 17, 2018. The solicitation resulted in applications from three experienced offshore wind developers, which represent multi-billion-dollar investments and hundreds of clean energy jobs.
Currently, the NJPPU staff is currently reviewing the applications for another 1,100 MW, which they expect to award at the end of June. In addition, the board is considering an additional 1,200 MW solicitations in 2020 and 2022 as part of the 3,500 MW by 2030 goal.
“We have gone from having no program on the day the governor was inaugurated 55 weeks ago to developing a cutting-edge offshore wind program with a goal of 3,500 MW of offshore wind energy by 2030,” NJBPU President Joseph Fiordaliso said. “Offshore wind is a key aspect of the governor’s clean energy initiatives as we put in place policies aimed at combatting the effects of climate change.”
Among some of the other achievements in the past year, the NJBPU established an Interagency Agency Taskforce on Offshore Wind (IATF) in February 2018 and launched New Jersey’s Offshore Wind Strategic Plan in August 2018. Also, the board approved an offshore wind funding mechanism, the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC).
“Right now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish New Jersey as a global leader in offshore wind,” New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan said. “Thanks to Governor Murphy’s vision, we are working with partners across State government to build a deeper understanding of the offshore wind project life cycle, supply chain, and workforce requirements. This will pave the way for the thousands of good-paying job opportunities and other economic benefits the state’s investment in this innovative sector will bring.”
Fiordaliso added that offshore wind is not only important for the environment, but it also will provide a boost to the economy.
“Our initiative will establish an offshore wind supply chain in New Jersey,” he said.
