Governor Murphy Increases Offshore Wind Goal by Nearly 50%

On Sep 22, 2022

Gov. Phil Murphy yesterday increased New Jersey’s offshore wind goal by nearly 50%, from 7,500 MW to 11,000 MW by 2040 via Executive Order No. 307. Additionally, the move directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to study the feasibility of increasing the target further.

Murphy also announced the release of the Green Jobs for a Sustainable Future report, created by the New Jersey Council on the Green Economy in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy. The report outlines recommendations and pathways for growing a demographically representative and inclusive green workforce. The council is comprised of experts, advocates, and leaders from across industry and organized labor.

The governor also announced the release of an Offshore Wind jobs analysis and highlighted $10 million in new investments, which will guide and support the state as it prepares to execute a One Year Action Plan designed to generate good-paying jobs in the growing green economy. Several private sector partners, including Unilever, DSM, Hugo Neu, IKEA, Siemens, United, and Hackensack Meridian Health, committed to supporting these crucial efforts by signing the Corporate Green Jobs Pledge.

These announcements were made during Climate Week at a U.S. Climate Alliance event alongside New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

“Extreme weather events and severe flooding across the country leave no room for doubt – the effects of climate change are becoming more impactful and more aggressive, and we must do the same,” said Gov. Murphy. “Our renewed and strengthened commitment to offshore wind development testifies to my Administration’s understanding that, regardless of our impressive successes to date, there is always more that we can do to make New Jersey more sustainable while further advancing the state’s economic vitality. Indeed, the groundbreaking report prepared under the aegis of the Council of the Green Economy proves, now more than ever, that environmental health and economic health are inextricably connected.”

“Let there be no doubt that New Jersey is a leader when it comes to moving towards a green economy. Today’s actions take us a few steps forward towards Governor Murphy’s goal of becoming a 100% green-energy state by 2050,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy, honorary chair of the Council on the Green Economy. “When that day comes, the Council on the Green Economy will have created an equitable workforce of well trained and skilled climate literate professionals who will continue the fight for generation to come against climate change.”

Ray Cantor, deputy chief government affairs officer for the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, commented, “We continue to be enthusiastic about the potential growth of this new industry and the jobs and economic benefits it will bring. We firmly support efforts to promote workforce development so that we have the trained employees available to meet this growth.”

For a copy of Executive Order No. 307, click here.

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