NJ BPU to Host Offshore Wind Stakeholder Meetings

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) is holding three public stakeholder meetings focused on the state’s offshore wind goals and the 1,100MW solicitation.

At the meetings, BPU staff, members of the New Jersey Offshore Wind Interagency Taskforce, offshore wind developers and environmental non-governmental organizations will be describing the state’s process for developing offshore wind and the Offshore Wind Strategic Plan.

Members of the public will also have an opportunity to participate and engage in the process.

The first event will take place on 4 December from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. local time at the Bergen Community College, followed by a meeting the day after from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Mercer Community College Conference Center.

The final event is scheduled for 13 December from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Atlantic County Government Building Auditorium.

New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy set out the goal of developing 3,500MW of offshore wind capacity by 2030 by signing the A-3723 – the Renewable Energy bill in May.

The first step in meeting the goal was made when in September BPU unanimously approved an order opening an application window for 1,100MW of offshore wind. This is so far the nation’s largest single-state offshore wind solicitation.

The U.S. state will be guided towards the target with the help of the Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, currently being prepared.