Offshore Wind Developer EnBW Opens in Jersey City

On May 16, 2019

A ribbon cutting was held for EnBW North America in Jersey City as city Mayor Steven Fulop was joined by New Jersey Economic Development Authority Senior Vice President Brian Sabina and scores of others, who gathered to officially open the German subsidiary’s first US office.

“With combined targets of nearly 13 gigawatts, New Jersey and New York are poised to lead the growth of the US offshore wind market,” EnBW North America Managing Director Bill White said. “We are proud to open this office in Jersey City, so that we can learn directly from the communities we hope to serve, as we develop competitive projects that deliver clean energy and jobs to the region.”

In a statement, Governor Phil Murphy, who visited EnBW’s leadership team in Germany last fall, noted, “New Jersey is poised not just to be a national leader in the production of offshore wind energy, but we have everything needed to become a global leader. I am thrilled that EnBW North America has recognized the countless market opportunities in offshore wind energy New Jersey has to offer and has chosen to be a partner in that effort.”

“As we continue to address global climate change and take measurable actions as a City, it is fitting that EnBW North America opens their office here,” said Mayor Steven M. Fulop, who participated in EnBW North America’s “Oktoberfest in May” celebration and ceremonial ribbon cutting last evening. “While we continue to build an economy on sustainable and green forms of energy, the opening of this office will create new jobs and continue to encourage us to find bold new ways to reduce our carbon footprint.”

Grounded in nearly a decade of European offshore wind experience by its parent company EnBW AG, EnBW North America is committed to supplying US consumers and businesses with clean, renewable electricity at an affordable price. Developer of Germany’s first commercial offshore wind project in 2011, EnBW AG is currently developing a 900 MW project in the North Sea that sets a precedent in that it will be built without public subsidy. The German utility is a leading European offshore wind developer with a portfolio of nearly 1,000 MW of offshore wind projects under operation or construction in Europe and more than 3,000 MW under development globally.

“Establishing our first US office here in Jersey City is a major milestone for our company,” said Holger Grubel, EnBW’s Head of Offshore Wind Portfolio Development. “We intend to combine our unique blend of German engineering expertise with our local team’s know-how in energy policy and community engagement to advance the region’s goals for clean energy, economic development, and environmental stewardship.”

EnBW has recently expanded into Asia as well as North America. In the Northeast US, the company’s focus is on the New Jersey/New York market, with the Bureau of Offshore Energy Management (BOEM) lease auction for the New York Bight expected in early 2020.  EnBW North America has joined the New York Offshore Wind Alliance.  EnBW North America is also looking to support regional wind development in northern New England and recently became the first offshore wind developer member of Clean Energy New Hampshire. On the West Coast, EnBW North America is the majority owner of Castle Wind, the nation’s first proposed floating offshore wind project off Morro Bay California.

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