For Immediate Release:	Contact: Peter Peretzman
Date: 03/6/2023	609-900-5626

Trenton, N.J.—The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) today voted to open the application window for the State’s third solicitation for offshore wind capacity. The third solicitation seeks to award between 1.2 GW and 4 GW of offshore wind capacity, building on the previously awarded 3.75 GW. This represents a significant milestone toward achieving Governor Phil Murphy’s goal of 11 GW of offshore wind energy in New Jersey by 2040, which could power 3.2 million homes with renewable energy.

“Today marks a pivotal next step toward accomplishment of our offshore wind development goals,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “Offshore wind constitutes a crucial component of our journey to 100% clean energy by 2035, a benchmark that solidifies our position at the national forefront of climate action. In addition to safeguarding our communities from the worsening impacts of climate change, this emerging industry will generate thousands of good-paying jobs and economic opportunity across the state.”

 

“New Jersey continues to back up our bold climate goals with concrete action as a leader in the clean energy transition,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “As we continue to take major, historic steps forward to meet Governor Murphy’s new goal of 100 percent clean energy by 2035, today’s actions will not only help us fight the ravages of climate change, but represent another investment in bolstering our local union workforce, ensuring our families and communities reap the benefits of our clean energy transition.”   

 

While developing the State’s offshore wind resources, NJBPU will continue to coordinate with the applicable federal agencies with jurisdiction, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to ensure projects are responsibly developed and sited.

 

As part of the NJBPU’s second offshore wind energy solicitation, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and Ocean Wind committed $10,000 per megawatt of project-size-awarded capacity – or approximately $26.5 million – to fund regional research and monitoring to assess the impacts of offshore wind on New Jersey’s natural resources. The Research and Monitoring Initiative will identify, prioritize and fund projects in regional research and monitoring of marine and coastal resources before and during offshore wind development, construction, operation and maintenance, and decommissioning as recommended in the New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan. The Board is recommending that any projects selected in the third solicitation contribute funding to this initiative.

In opening the third solicitation today, the Board also issued its Third Solicitation Guidance Document, which was developed through a robust public stakeholder process and provides the solicitation’s mechanics and timeline, project application requirements, and evaluation criteria. The application window opens on March 6, 2023 and closes on June 23, 2023. The Board anticipates making a decision on the submitted applications by the end of 2023.

 

In 2019, the Board made an award from its first offshore wind solicitation to Ørsted’s 1.1 GW Ocean Wind project, the largest single-project award in the country at that time. In 2021, the Board made its second and third awards to Ocean Wind II for 1.1 GW of offshore wind capacity and Atlantic Shores for 1.5 GW of offshore wind capacity. To date, the Board has awarded 3.75 GW of offshore wind capacity.  The three projects will inject $4.7 billion into New Jersey’s economy and create over 10,000 jobs - over 70,000 FTE job-years.
For more information about New Jersey’s offshore wind program, please visit here.

 

About New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program (NJCEP)

NJCEP, established on January 22, 2003, in accordance with the Electric Discount and Energy Competition Act (EDECA), provides financial and other incentives to the State's residential customers, businesses and schools that install high-efficiency or renewable energy technologies, thereby reducing energy usage, lowering customers' energy bills and reducing environmental impacts. The program is authorized and overseen by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), and its website is www.NJCleanEnergy.com.

 

About the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) 

NJBPU is a state agency and regulatory authority mandated to ensure safe, adequate and proper utility services at reasonable rates for New Jersey customers. Critical services regulated by NJBPU include natural gas, electricity, water, wastewater, telecommunications and cable television. The Board has general oversight and responsibility for monitoring utility service, responding to consumer complaints, and investigating utility accidents. To find out more about NJBPU, visit our website at www.nj.gov/bpu.