The Board of Public Utilities released a report detailing the progress made toward the state’s offshore wind goals in the year since Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 8 directing the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to fully implement the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA).
“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,” BPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Offshore wind is a key aspect of the Governor’s clean energy initiatives as we put in place policies aimed at combating the effects of climate change.”
“Right now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish New Jersey as a global leader in offshore wind,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan. “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.”
“The development of offshore wind energy is critical to fighting climate change and sea-level rise as well as achieving the Governor’s clean energy goals,” said Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe. “Offshore wind energy represents vast potential for generation of green energy that will create jobs and economic growth that will make New Jersey stronger.”
Since the signing of the executive order, the board has solicited bids for the first 1,100 MW of offshore wind, the largest state solicitation to date. The Governor has also asked the Bbard to consider additional 1,200 MW solicitations in 2020 and 2022 as part of the 3,500 MW by 2030 goal.
Board staff is now in the process of reviewing the applications for 1,100 MW and expect to announce an award at the end of June. The board also approved an offshore wind funding mechanism, the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) and board staff has begun the process of developing an offshore wind strategic plan.
“Offshore wind is not only extremely important for our environment, but it also is a burgeoning industry that will provide a boost to the economy, create jobs, increase workforce development, and establish an important means of data collection,” said Fiordaliso. “Our initiative will establish an offshore wind supply chain in New Jersey.”
As the report highlights, over the last year, the BPU has:
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