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New Jersey sets out 1,100MW offshore wind plan

Governor Chris Christie signs the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act into state law

A new renewable energy credits program in New Jersey will see the Garden State pushing to develop more than 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind farms.

Governor Chris Christie signed legislation yesterday requiring the state’s Board of Public Utilities to set up the program, which will mean a certain percentage of electricity sold in New Jersey will come from offshore wind.

The Offshore Wind Economic Development Act, as the new law is called, will also provide financial assistance for offshore wind companies that locate to New Jersey.

Equipment manufacturers and assembly facilities will be able to secure funding support from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.

The new law was passed with bipartisan support by the New Jersey legislature in June (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

Commitment

Governor Christie said the measures would allow his state to leverage its “vast” offshore wind resources and support businesses in new and emerging sectors.

He said: “Developing New Jersey’s renewable energy resources and industry is critical to our state’s manufacturing and technology future.  My Administration will maintain a strong commitment to utilizing energy as industry in our efforts to make our State a home for growth, as well as a national leader in the wind power movement.”

Plans are already being shaped for a 350MW deepwater offshore wind project 16 miles from the South Jersey shore, while the state has also signed up to the East Coast coalition of states pledged to work together to develop offshore wind capacity (see this BrighterEnergy.org story).

Three of the first five interim leases approved by the federal government for offshore wind exploration were for tracts off the New Jersey coast.

New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bob Martin said his state would rather have wind turbines off its coast than oil rigs.

He said: “We are far ahead of most other states in developing a technology that is better for the environment and will help the state’s economy.”