Looking to the future of clean energy in New Jersey, under Governor Murphy’s leadership the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) this week awarded a combined 2,658 MW of offshore wind capacity to EDF/Shell’s Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and Ørsted’s Ocean Wind II, the nation’s largest combined award to date.
The state’s total planned capacity will increase to over 3,700 MW, moving New Jersey closer to Governor Phil Murphy’s goal of 7,500 MW of offshore wind by 2035. If achieved, the goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050 is within reach.
Via unanimous vote, the Board awarded 1,510 MW of capacity to Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and 1,148MW to Ocean Wind II. The approval enables the projects to go forward that includes strong environmental and fisheries protection plans and each project committing to investing in New Jersey’s burgeoning offshore wind industry. Most important, the two projects entail the construction of new manufacturing facilities at the New Jersey Wind Port and utilizing the foundation manufacturing facility at the Port of Paulsboro. From this tens of thousands of jobs are projected to be created that will inject billions of dollars in economic benefits into the State.
“Expanding New Jersey’s offshore wind industry is a major component of achieving our goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2050, while providing significant opportunities and economic benefits for our state,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “By leveraging a whole-of-government approach and the strengths of our state, this award ensures that our investment in clean energy is also an investment in our communities, and will generate good-paying, union jobs and bring valuable investments to New Jersey. Today’s award, which is the nation’s largest combined award to date, further solidifies New Jersey as an offshore wind supply chain hub and leader in the offshore wind industry in the United States.”
“We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish New Jersey as the epicenter of a new industry that will provide tens of thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic benefits when we need it most,” said Joseph L. Fiordaliso, NJBPU President. “Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, we have made significant progress toward our goal of 7,500 MW of offshore wind by 2035 and will continue fighting for a clean energy future that benefits all New Jersey residents, improves public health, mitigates climate change, and bolsters our economy with sustainable, good-paying jobs.”
The estimated benefits of the clean energy project are as follows:
- 7,000 full and or part time jobs across the development, construction and operational phases of the projects,
- Approximately 56,000 Full Time Equivalent job years, as some jobs will be shorter term and others will last for many years,
- $3.5 billion in economic benefits and power to 1.15 million homes with clean energy, and
- Project developers contributing $10,000 per MW to fund research initiatives and wildlife and fishery monitoring in the region – totaling $26 million that will be administered by NJBPU and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection through a robust stakeholder process.
“Offshore wind is a central component of Governor Murphy’s efforts to build a stronger, fairer, and greener economy in New Jersey,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Establishing New Jersey as a hub of the rapidly-growing American offshore wind industry will bring billions of dollars of investment into the state and create thousands of family-sustaining jobs for residents throughout the state. The solicitation award announced today is another exciting step forward that will help to cement New Jersey’s leadership in this emerging industry.”
Since taking office Governor Murphy has advocated an Energy Master Plan for identifying the most ambitious and cost-effective ways of reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050. To achieve this the Murphy Administration has focused on efforts that bolster this transition by focusing on jobs and economic growth. Initiatives include developing the NJ Wind Port in Salem County, establishing a WIND Institute to coordinate workforce development and research and development in offshore wind, and a $250 million investment in the Port of Paulsboro for turbine component manufacturing.
NJBPU has underway the identification of the most efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally sensitive ways of bringing offshore clean energy ashore. It also is engaged in a first-of-its-kind transmission solicitation managed by regional grid operator PJM Interconnection for ready-to-build options for an open access transmission solution delivering offshore wind energy to the existing grid.
The New Jersey off shore wind initiative may be viewed at https://www.njcleanenergy.com/nj-offshore-wind
