Over 177 NJ elected officials have signed a letter to help offshore wind become a reality
by Ramona Cornell du Houx
May 1, 2024
On April 30, Governor Phil Murphy and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) announced the opening of New Jersey’s fourth offshore wind solicitation. It seeks to award between 1.2 gigawatts and approximately 4 gigawatts of offshore wind generation capacity.
“We are living in an existential climate crisis. Job-creating solutions that benefit our communities and protect our coasts, as offshore wind has immense potential to do, are key to keeping greenhouse gasses in check as we transition off of climate-damaging fossil fuels,” said Dominic Frongillo, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Elected Officials to Protect America. “This latest solicitation is further proof of New Jersey’s commitment to a strong and thriving offshore wind industry to combat the climate crisis, and transition off of dangerous fossil fuels by using New Jersey’s own clean energy sources and workforce to grow the economy.”
Governor Murphy established the state’s offshore wind capacity goal at 11,000 MW by 2040. It gives the state a clear path to meet New Jersey’s mandate to generate half the state’s electricity from renewable sources. New Jersey’s strong, consistent offshore wind and wide, shallow continental shelf enables economical deployment of offshore wind using existing fixed bottom technology.
“This solicitation sends a robust signal to offshore wind developers, affirming New Jersey is open for business in the renewable energy sector,” said Balvir Singh, Burlington County Board of Commissioners, EOPA New Jersey Leadership Council. “Offshore wind power, and other renewable energy sources will drive the transition of the electrification of transportation. Renewable energy projects represent enormous positive outcomes for our health and economy, especially from the imperative lens of environmental justice.”
177 current and former elected officials from New Jersey have signed an Elected Officials to Protect America-New Jersey letter supporting responsible offshore wind development.
In the process of meeting New Jersey’s procurement goals, the fourth solicitation aims to encourage competition, promote economic development, and combat climate impacts, all at the lowest reasonable cost to New Jersey ratepayers.
“This solicitation confirms we’re on track to meet our clean energy offshore wind goals,” said Kaleem Shabazz Atlantic City Councilmember, NJ, EOPA New Jersey Leadership Council. “We are at the forefront of pioneering a clean, renewable energy sector that has the potential to catalyze workforce development, stimulate economic prosperity, fortify shoreline protection, and bring environmental justice to communities with cleaner air and jobs for those who are too often left behind. With equity and inclusiveness, the future of our state is bright.”
The application window opens on April 30, and closes on July 10, 2024 at 5 pm.
“Atlantic City floods all the time from the rising seas. Children miss school regularly because they can’t leave their home if it’s surrounded by water. We have to act now to mitigate the climate crisis,” said Caren Fitzpatrick, Former Atlantic County Commissioner, NJ, EOPA New Jersey Leadership Council. “We have to stop using fossil fuels, and the way to do that is to responsibly build out offshore wind. It’s a win-win for our economy, our pocketbooks and our health. Together with Atlantic Shores 1, Attentive Energy and Leading Light Wind the projects coming from the new solicitation will bring the state closer to achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2035, create thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic opportunity in our coastal communities and beyond, and guarantee we have access to clean, affordable energy produced right here and powered by our labor union workforce. It’s a win-win for our economy, our pocketbooks and our health.”
New Jersey is becoming a nationwide hub for the industry which gives the state new career opportunities. Training opportunities have been established in Atlantic City with the workforce development program called Wind Power Ready. The Wind Power Ready program is a local workforce development program developed in partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey with assistance from the New Jersey Wind Institute for Innovation and Training, the Governor’s Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.
“It’s clear with this solicitation that offshore wind energy for New Jersey and the nation is inevitable. It’s a major component that will bring Justice40 communities, like mine, relief from the ongoing injustices we continue to suffer from,” said Kaleem Shabazz, Atlantic City Councilmember, President of NAACP Atlantic City, EOPA New Jersey Leadership Council Member. “Training facilities are already up and running with students from my community. The promise of the Wind Power Ready program means communities hit the worst from the climate crisis and lack of job opportunities will finally be given a chance to succeed with good paying jobs, and experience better health outcomes. Offshore wind is critical to our economic, environmental, and clean energy future.”
Businesses, community groups, labor unions, and environmental groups back responsible offshore wind development.
In its previous solicitation, on January 24, 2024 the Board awarded two of New Jersey’s largest offshore wind projects to date, the 1,342 megawatt Attentive Energy Two project and the 2,400 megawatt Leading Light Wind project.
Together, the 3,742-megawatt projects are anticipated to produce $6.8 billion in economic benefits to the state, including roughly 4,350 new jobs in direct construction and maintenance of offshore wind farms, as well as jobs in the offshore wind supply chain and related fields.Here is a link to the NJBPU fourth solicitation guidance document.
These projects have also committed to:
- Establishment of NJ-based Operations & Maintenance (O&M) facilities;
- Marshaling of both projects at the NJ Wind Port;
- Anchor orders from a tower manufacturing facility to be constructed at the NJ Wind Port
- $164 million in funding for EEW expansion;
- Funding and support for a variety of other educational, workforce development, and innovation initiatives, including several with an environmental justice focus, through NJ-based educational and non-profit organizations, and over $60 million for environmental and fisheries initiatives combined; and
- $94 million commitment for direct assistance to 200,000 low-income, energy-burdened households by reducing their monthly electricity bill increase by 50 percent to support an equitable transition – a key program from Leading Light Wind.