The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) expects to announce the winner of the 1,100MW offshore wind solicitation at the end of June.
NJBPU is currently in the process of reviewing applications. As reported earlier, three bidders responded to the solicitation, Ørsted with its Ocean Wind project, Equinor with Boardwalk Wind, and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, a joint venture between Shell and EDF Renewables North America.
Progress Report
NJBPU has also released a report detailing the progress made toward the state’s offshore wind goals of 3,500MW of operating capacity by 2030.
The report comes one year after New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy signed Executive Order No. 8 directing NJBPU to fully implement the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA).
Since the signing of the Executive Order, NJBPU solicited bids for 1.1GW of offshore wind, the largest state solicitation to date, and Governor Murphy has asked NJBPU to consider additional 1,200MW solicitations in 2020 and 2022.
NJBPU has also approved an offshore wind funding mechanism, the Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificate (OREC) and Board staff has begun the process of developing an offshore wind strategic plan.
“ We have gone from having no program on the day the Governor was inaugurated 55 weeks ago to developing a cutting edge offshore wind program with a goal of 3,500 MW of offshore wind energy by 2030,” NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso, said .
“Offshore wind is a key aspect of the Governor’s clean energy initiatives as we put in place policies aimed at combatting the effects of climate change.”