PSEG, NJ Economic Development Authority sign lease for New Jersey Wind Port

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and PSEG are partnering to develop the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County.

The two organizations signed a lease for up to 78 years on land that will be home to the new wind port, adjacent to PSEG’s nuclear generating site. It will provide a location for essential staging, assembly, and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind along the East Coast.

The wind port is located adjacent to PSEG’s nuclear generating site, which currently provides more than 90 percent of New Jersey’s carbon-free electricity.

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a transformational investment that will create hundreds of good jobs and drive billions of dollars of economic activity in South Jersey and throughout the state,” NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan said. “This is a vital project that will help communities recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and move us closer to Governor Murphy’s vision for a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy. The NJEDA is proud to partner with PSEG to bring this valuable new infrastructure asset to life.”

The New Jersey Wind Port is located on an artificial island on the eastern shores of the Delaware River, southwest of the City of Salem. The port is one of a select few ports on the East Coast that can house offshore wind turbine marshalling and manufacturing.

“The lease signing with the NJEDA is cause for celebration as the New Jersey Wind Port will provide a foundation for even more carbon-free energy in our region,” PSEG Chief Operating Officer Ralph LaRossa said. “Alongside PSEG’s nuclear plants, the New Jersey Wind Port will establish South Jersey as the heart of New Jersey’s clean energy economy. By supporting the development of renewable offshore wind power, this lease and the facility to come will establish New Jersey as the destination for clean energy development, operations, training, skills and innovation.”

Offshore wind is part of Gov. Phil Murphy’s Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050. As part of that plan, New Jersey has committed to producing 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.

The wind port has the potential to create more than 1,500 manufacturing, assembly and operations jobs, along with hundreds of construction jobs.

“Salem County and South Jersey are already home to exceptional innovation, operations and a workforce skilled in generating clean energy for millions of customers. And now, with the addition of the New Jersey Wind Port, PSEG is proud to support the state as we become the hub for development of carbon-free resources for the East Coast,” PSEG Nuclear President and Chief Nuclear Officer Eric Carr said. “PSEG and PSEG Nuclear welcome broad partnerships such as ours with the NJEDA and we look forward to continuing to drive innovation, growth and investment in the clean energy economy.”