The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has confirmed it received bids from the Atlantic Shores joint venture and from Orsted for the US state’s second offshore wind solicitation for between 1200MW and 2400MW.
NJBPU Staff will review the applications with its consultant Levitan and Associates, and anticipates awarding the resulting offshore wind project or projects in June 2021.
In 2022 the Board will vote to open a third solicitation for at least 1.2GW of offshore wind.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said: “New Jersey’s growing offshore wind industry will create a welcome economic boon as we continue our state’s recovery from Covid-19.
“Developing our offshore wind capabilities allows New Jersey to build back smarter and stronger, with sustainability and equity at the forefront.
“As New Jersey continues to move forward as a national offshore wind leader, we look forward to welcoming a diverse group into this new industry.
“Expanding our offshore wind industry not only reinforces our commitment to achieving 100% clean energy by 2050, but it will also create thousands of jobs that will deliver massive economic growth and put New Jerseyans back to work at one of the most critical moments in history.”
NJBPU President Joseph Fiordaliso said: “Offshore wind has always been a centerpiece of the Murphy administration’s clean energy ambitions and is even more important now as we face an economic recovery from this devastating pandemic.
“New Jersey is all-in on wind, and as we expand our robust offshore wind program, we need all the lease space we can get in the profitable waters just off New Jersey’s coast. We look forward to working with the incoming Biden administration to accomplish this.”