The US east coast state of New Jersey is considering up to 2400MW of offshore wind in its second solicitation.
In a draft solicitation guidance for its second offshore wind solicitation the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) is planning a bidding round of 1200MW to 2400MW.
The timeline in the draft second solicitation guidance document anticipates the NJBPU will consider the second solicitation at a September 2020 agenda meeting.
Applications would then be accepted in December 2020 with a final decision by the board in June 2021.
The regulator has scheduled a virtual public meeting on 5 August 2020 to accept public input in relation to the document.
The draft solicitation guidance includes information on the timeline and mechanisms of the second solicitation, the application requirements and the criteria for evaluating applications.
While the first offshore wind solicitation was for 1100MW of energy, the second one will consider a larger range of up to 2400MW to help meet Governor Phil Murphy’s goal of 7500MW of offshore wind energy by 2035.
NJBPU president Joseph Fiordaliso said: “Using lessons learned from our first successful solicitation of 1,100 MW, we are very excited to move forward with our second offshore wind solicitation which could bring the state up to a total of 3500MW of offshore wind energy.
“Offshore wind is the linchpin of our clean energy program and will help us reach Governor Murphy’s goal of 100% clean energy by 2050, build an innovation economy, and combat the impacts of climate changes.”
The virtual public meeting will consist of a brief presentation by NJBPU staff recapping New Jersey’s offshore wind goals and activities to date, as well as background on the requirements of the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act and Governor Murphy’s Executive Orders No. 8 and No. 92.
A presentation summarising the content of the draft second solicitation guidance and public comment will follow.
Murphy signed Executive Order No. 8 in January 2018 which directed NJBPU and all agencies with responsibility under the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act to “take all necessary action” to fully implement OWEDA and begin the process of moving New Jersey towards a goal of 3500MW of offshore wind energy generation by the year 2030.
The order also required an initial solicitation of 1100MW as the first step toward achieving the goal, and required the development of an Offshore Wind Strategic Plan.