New Jersey receives applications for offshore wind projects
The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has received applications from two developers for its recent solicitation for offshore wind capacity.
The board seeks to award 1,200 MW to 2,400 MW of offshore wind energy, potentially tripling the state’s committed capacity. It moves the state closer to Gov. Phil Murphy’s goal of 7,500 MW of offshore wind energy in New Jersey by 2035.
“New Jersey’s growing offshore wind industry will create a welcome economic boon as we continue our state’s recovery from COVID-19,” Murphy said. “Developing our offshore wind capabilities allows New Jersey to build back smarter and stronger, with sustainability and equity at the forefront. As New Jersey continues to move forward as a national offshore wind leader, we look forward to welcoming a diverse group into this new industry. Expanding our offshore wind industry not only reinforces our commitment to achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050, but it will also create thousands of jobs that will deliver massive economic growth and put New Jerseyans back to work at one of the most critical moments in history.”
NJBPU received bids from Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and Orsted. NJBPU Staff will review the applications. The board anticipates awarding the resulting offshore wind project in June 2021.
“Offshore wind has always been a centerpiece of the Murphy Administration’s clean energy ambitions and is even more important now as we face an economic recovery from this devastating pandemic,” NJBPU President Joseph Fiordaliso said. “New Jersey is all-in on wind, and as we expand our robust offshore wind program, we need all the lease space we can get in the profitable waters just off New Jersey’s coast. We look forward to working with the incoming Biden Administration to accomplish this.”
In 2019, New Jersey awarded the country’s largest single offshore wind solicitation to Orsted for its 1,100 MW Ocean Wind project to be built off the Atlantic City coast.
