Official Site of The State of New Jersey
NJ Wind Institute
What is the Wind Institute?
The Wind Institute for Innovation and Training coordinates and deploys resources to support New Jersey’s offshore wind workforce development, education, research and innovation efforts. Currently housed within the NJEDA, the Wind Institute works with government, industry, labor, academia, communities, and other stakeholders to identify and address industry needs.
What are the Wind Institute’s objectives?
The Wind Institute’s objectives are to:
- Accelerate the development of a robust and diverse offshore wind workforce
- Champion research and innovation that unlock market potential
- Galvanize cross-stakeholder efforts to foster offshore wind workforce, education, research and innovation efforts
What are the Wind Institute’s Initiatives?
Workforce Training Programs
- Wind Power Ready - Wind technician training with Rowan College of South Jersey
- Welding and Painting Programs - Trade career courses in Camden, Gloucester, and Salem County
- GWO Basic Safety - Credential training with Atlantic Cape Community College
- Offshore Wind Workforce Development Grants - Funding to develop OSW workforce training programs with a focus on NJ Overburdened Communities
Education Programs
- KidWind - K-12 cirriculum development with NJ schools that align with NJ's first-in-the-nation climate change standards
- Offshore Wind Trainings for NJ Businesses - Monthly virtual and in-person seminars about the OSW industry provided for free to NJ businesses and organizations
- NJIT POWERCERTS Program - Partnership with NJIT to establish graduate certificate courses in OSW management
- K-12 Offshore Wind Activity Book - A fun and educational booklet for K-12 students
Research & Innovation
- University Initiatives to Advance Offshore Wind - University partnerships to support the development of programs that further OSW expertise
- Wind Institute Fellowship - Partnership with B universities to support undergraduate and graduate students' research in offshore wind. Our second cohort of 40 students kicked- off their fellowships in October 2023!
Who works with the Wind Institute?
The Wind Institute collaborates with agencies, organizations, and institutions across New Jersey to deliver training courses, support workforce development programs, and fund offshore wind research. Together, we strive to advance the development of the offshore wind industry.
- Agencies: NJ Dept. of Labor & Workforce Development; NJ Board of Public Utilities; NJ Dept. of Education; NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection and more
- Organizations: NJ Wind Port; KidWind Project; Mid-Atlantic States Career & Education Center and more
- Institutions: Princeton University; Seton Hall University; Rutgers University and more
What is the Wind Institute Fellowship Program?
The Wind Institute Fellowship Program is designed to support graduate and undergraduate university student research and exposure to offshore wind.
There were 26 fellows at Rutgers University, Rowan University, Montclair State University, and NJ Institute of Technology during its first academic year in 2023-2024. The students conducted offshore wind research in various academic majors, attended monthly Wind Institute workshops, and presented research at the Wind Institute Symposium.
In years 2 and 3 (2023-2025 academic year), the program expanded to include Stockton University, Princeton University, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Seton Hall university, making up a second cohort of up to 40 fellows.
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