For Immediate Release
Contact: Jeff Tittel, NJ Sierra Club, 609-558-9100
The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) unanimously passed an order for their staff to begin implementing Governor Murphy’s Executive Order on offshore wind. This includes setting up an OREC program and a strategic plan on working with surrounding states. It also includes a stakeholder roundtable on moving forward as well as solicitation for the 1100 MW of wind that have already been approved as well as an Interagency Wind Taskforce. Seven years ago, Christie signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA) but the Administration failed to make offshore wind a reality off our coast. Now we can begin the process of having offshore wind in New Jersey.
“It’s critical that the BPU is starting their process to make offshore wind a reality in New Jersey. This is the first real Government action in our state on offshore wind. It’s important that we are moving forward not only on financial rules, but on working with other states, talking to stakeholders and creating strategic plans. This will move us forward when it comes to clean energy and green jobs. Offshore wind is the most reliable and cost-effective form of offshore power. Wind energy is renewable and clean. It will help us create thousands of jobs in a variety of fields including construction and operation. Offshore wind will provide electricity and jobs to places where it’s needed most,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “We’ve been working on implementing offshore wind in New Jersey for fifteen years and are happy to see if finally happening.”
The East Coast, with its large metropolitan areas and dense suburbs is hungry for jobs, investment and energy. Offshore wind can be the engine that drives economic growth in the region for decades to come. Offshore wind not only creates jobs in installing, operating, and maintaining wind turbines but the OWEDA also calls for investment in manufacturing wind turbines. This would create jobs rebuilding the Paulsboro Port, building factories, manufacturing the steel for the turbines, and assembling and transporting the windmills. Jobs would also be created building the substations and electric connections to serve the windmills. With the delays we are losing jobs in the financial sector and venture capitalism for funding and investing in wind.
“Today the BPU has started the implement the Murphy Administration’s goal for offshore wind. We can work towards our current goal of 1100 MW and hopefully get the process going for 3500 MW of offshore wind by 2030. We’ve done studies to find the best places for wind that have the least environmental impacts six years ago. Off shore wind is the most reliable and cost-effective form of offshore power and New Jersey needs to pursue policies to facilitate the construction of wind turbines off our coast,” said Jeff Tittel. “We can grow our economy and create jobs while protecting our environment and now the Federal Government’s auctions will push us closer to that possibility.”
In 2016, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) auctions of parcels of federal waters of the coast of New Jersey for commercial wind development. Two parcels off the coast Atlantic City received their final bid. RES Americas Developments Inc. won the 160,480-acre south lease area for $880,715, and U.S. Wind Inc. got the 183,353-acre north lease area for $1,006,240. This development is good news for clean energy as New Jersey could feasibly use offshore wind to power 1.2 million homes.
“We’re concerned that we’re lost so much time already and the BPU has to move fast because of the eight years of delay. For eight years, Governor Christie blocked offshore wind because of his national political ambitions. He vetoed legislation to put in place a funding mechanism for offshore wind in New Jersey. This blocked those companies who won auctions from being able to build their wind turbines on these parcels. The Federal Government is pushing wind energy forward by releasing bids but until now, the state government has been standing in the way,” said Jeff Tittel. “Even though these leases have been given, we can’t make offshore wind a reality unless we have a funding mechanism in place. That’s why it’s so important for Governor Murphy to lead the charge.”
We’ve been waiting eight years for a financing mechanism to make offshore wind in New Jersey a possibility. In 2010, Governor Christie signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA), but since then he has repeatedly blocked efforts to ensure we have windturbines off our coast. Delaying offshore wind projects costs our state jobs, renewable energy, and venture capital investments. Governor Christie and his administration has failed to fully implement the OWEDA, to establish a funding mechanism for offshore wind, to jump start the manufacturing of wind turbines in our state, and to develop windmills off our coast. As we continue to rebuild our coast in the wake of multiple storm events we need to invest in clean, renewable energy sources that do not contribute to climate change.
“Offshore wind wo be a great way to get our coastal economy going and that’s why the BPU is acting on it. New Jersey was supposed to be the leading state on offshore wind until Governor Christie blocked it. Wind energy is renewable, clean, and creates thousands creates jobs. Offshore wind off our coast could feasibly power 1.2 million homes with clean energy. New Jersey has enough potential of offshore wind to meet 1/3 of our electrical needs. Other states, such as Rhode Island, have gotten the jobs and economic advantages of wind while NJ has fallen behind,” said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. “It’s time to get offshore wind moving in New Jersey!”