New Jersey opens 2.4 GW offshore wind solicitation

New Jersey has opened the application window for this US State’s second solicitation of offshore wind capacity.

This second solicitation seeks to award between 1,200 MW and 2,400 MW of offshore wind energy, potentially tripling the State’s committed capacity from 1,100 MW to 3,500 MW.

The application window opened on 10 September and will close on 10 December 10, 2020. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) anticipates awarding the resulting offshore wind projects in June 2021.

“Developing New Jersey’s offshore wind industry will bring thousands of good-paying jobs and millions of dollars in economic development to our state to aid our economic recovery from COVID-19,” said New Jersey’s Governor Phil Murphy.

“This second solicitation not only reinforces our commitment to fighting climate change and achieving 100 percent clean energy by 2050, but it secures New Jersey’s foothold as a national leader in the growing U.S. offshore wind industry.”

In opening the second solicitation, the Board put forth its Second Solicitation Guidance Document, which was developed through a public stakeholder process and provides the solicitation’s mechanics and timeline, project application requirements, and evaluation criteria.

In addition to the solicitation, NJBPU approved the final New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, the State’s roadmap for achieving 7,500 MW of offshore wind energy by 2035. The plan was developed by Ramboll U.S. Corporation through a public stakeholder process.

In 2019, NJBPU made an award from its first offshore wind solicitation to Ørsted’s 1,100 MW Ocean Wind project, the largest single-project award in the country. The project, which will be built 15 miles off the coast of Atlantic City and is expected to commence operations in 2024, will generate an estimated USD 1.17 billion in economic benefits for New Jersey and create 15,000 jobs over the 20-year life of the project.

On track with Governor Murphy’s proposed solicitation schedule, NJBPU will vote in 2022 to open a third solicitation for offshore wind of at least 1,200 MW. Solicitations will open every two years until 2028.