Offshore Wind Archives - Page 2 of 3

TRENTON, N.J. (January 12, 2022) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a qualified entity to conduct a feasibility study for a world-class, flagship offshore wind research and development (R&D) testing facility as part of the Authority’s strategy to accelerate innovation for the offshore wind industry. The Offshore Wind Innovation Center Feasibility Study RFP can be found here.

The NJEDA, in support of the development of the Wind Institute, is seeking to secure the Garden State’s position as a leader in offshore wind technology research and innovation through this development to capitalize on New Jersey’s offshore wind investments and spur a robust ecosystem of offshore wind-related innovation activities. The firm selected through the RFP issued today will be responsible for providing the background review and market analysis, feasibility analysis, and implementation plans for this facility.

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is on track to become the capital of American offshore wind,” NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan said. “The Innovation Center will be instrumental in ensuring that New Jersey leads on world-renowned offshore wind technology research and innovation and harnesses the environmental and economic benefits of the rapidly growing offshore wind sector.”

New Jersey has a rich history of developing advanced, world-renowned R&D facilities including: the legendary Bell Labs in Murray Hill and Holmdel; the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory; the William J. Hughes Technical Center in Atlantic County; the Federal Aviation Administration’s premiere scientific research, development, engineering, and test site; and, the Coriell Institute for Medical Research in Camden, the largest stem cell bank in the world. The Authority considers the proposed offshore wind R&D facility to be a signature investment at a similar scale.

“We applaud EDA for issuing this RFP to determine the feasibility of an offshore wind innovation center,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Offshore wind is a key initiative of the Murphy Administration with a goal of 7.500 of offshore wind energy by 2035. At present we are more than halfway to that goal. We are looking forward to issuing our third solicitation later this year for applications that, if granted, will allow us to get closer to reaching our ultimate goal.”

New Jersey is a national leader in offshore wind with over 3,700 megawatts (MW) in the works, out of a targeted 7,500 MW by 2035. Further commitments by leading global industry firms to produce critical supply chain components in the Garden State, such as monopiles and nacelles will translate to direct and distinct opportunities for wind turbine component, subcomponent, and material innovation to flourish in New Jersey and for local suppliers to enter the offshore wind supply chain as mid- and lower-tier suppliers.

The Authority envisions the offshore wind R&D facility as a physical anchoring asset for testing, validating, and refining emerging technological and component innovations that demonstrate promise for the offshore wind market. New Jersey and the NJEDA, in support of the development of the Wind Institute, seek to achieve the following goals through this investment:

Propel New Jersey forward as the U.S. East Coast hub for world-renowned offshore wind technology research and innovation;
Support and foster emerging innovations and solutions to offshore wind market challenges and opportunities;
Incentivize clustering and anchoring of offshore wind research and innovation investments and activities around and near this proposed facility and/or in the state;
Leverage existing facilities and assets in New Jersey in developing this facility and clustering opportunities;
Capitalize on New Jersey’s existing expertise and reputation for research and innovation across multiple sectors such as clean tech, information technology and life sciences; and
Support opportunities for New Jersey-based businesses to expand and/or transition their product or service offerings for utilization in the offshore wind supply chain.

The estimated dates below are provided to interested Proposers for planning purposes only and do not represent firm commitment dates by which NJEDA will take action.

Key events:

Question and Answer Period Ends: January 24, 2022 at 1:00 PM (EST).
If required, Addendum with Q&A Responses, estimated: January 31, 2022.
Proposals Due: February 23, 2022 at or before 1:00 PM (EST).
Estimated Recommendation for Award: June 8, 2022.
Agreement Execution Date: July 8, 2022.

The intent of this RFP is to award one, five-month contract for an offshore wind innovation center feasibility study, with one, three-month extension option, if deemed necessary by the Authority and dependent upon funding, to the responsible Proposer whose Proposal, conforming to this RFP is most advantageous to the Authority, price and other factors considered.

NJEDA will not provide special consideration after responses to this RFP are opened.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses call NJEDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

###

Trenton, N.J. (December 20, 2021) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) today announced plans to enter a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the expansion of the GCIT’s welding and painting programs. Through the MOU, the NJEDA will provide up to $75,000 for programs that prepare students and workers for jobs in heavy steel offshore wind component manufacturing. Supported by funding from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), this MOU is aligned with the creation of the Wind Institute which will accelerate offshore wind workforce development and innovation in New Jersey.

“Job creation in the high-growth offshore wind industry has been a priority for Governor Phil Murphy and cultivating a pipeline of skilled workers is vital to achieving that goal,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “This MOU is latest in a series of bold steps the NJEDA is taking to establish New Jersey as a hub for offshore wind manufacturing.”

“Investing in the future of the offshore wind industry is just as important as investing in the education to create skilled employees,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney. “The partnership with NJEDA allows the school to tailor their program to fit the skills necessary to work in this industry. The goal is to educate our students so they can find employment at Paulsboro Marine Terminal, located only 20 minutes from their high school.”

GCIT, a four-year vocational-technical public high school in Sewell, New Jersey is collaborating with EEW American Offshore Structures (EEW), a leading manufacturer of offshore wind monopile foundations, to expand and tailor its welding and painting programs. GCIT students will learn the specific job skills required by EEW and other large scale offshore wind turbine component manufacturers.

In December 2020, EEW announced a $250 million investment in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to build steel components, known as monopiles. These monopile will be used as foundations for offshore wind turbines across the Eastern Seaboard. The facility, which is located at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal in Gloucester County, is the largest industrial offshore wind investment in the United States to date. Construction on the facility broke ground earlier this year and hiring of specialized welders and painters will begin by the end of next year.

“Gloucester County is a leader in job innovation and prioritizes creating opportunity for individuals to learn the skills necessary to excel in their future careers,” said Robert M. Damminger, Director of the Gloucester County Board of Commissioners. “Strong partnerships between the County, GCIT, Rowan College of South Jersey and Rowan University is the reason Gloucester County is the fastest growing county in New Jersey and will continue to add talented, hard-working and successful applicants into the career pool.”

“MOUs provide critical access to funding and opportunity which allows programs like GCIT’s to create incredible future employees,” said Commissioner Lyman Barnes, Gloucester County Liaison to the Department of Education. “Our welding and painting programs at GCIT were already impressive, but this will create another level of professional enhancement for our students.”

“We are excited to enter into this partnership and look forward to providing this training to current and future secondary and post-secondary students,” said GCIT Superintendent Michael C. Dicken. “This MOU, coupled with our centralized location near the Port of Paulsboro, will enable us to enhance our partnership with Rowan College of South Jersey, Rowan University, and other vocational technical schools in our region to build capacity and develop programs related to the wind sector.”

EEW anticipates hiring hundreds of workers for the project, the majority of which will be welders and painters. Job skills learned through the expansion of GCIT’s welding and painting programs will position GCIT graduates as attractive candidates for jobs at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal as well as other large scale component manufacturing facilities as the industry grows in New Jersey.

“Workforce development and skills training are critical, as we look to staff our new offshore wind factory in Paulsboro,” EEW CEO Lee Laurendeau said. “The collaboration with industry, education and government is necessary to realize the hundreds of clean energy manufacturing jobs in South Jersey. EEW would like to thank their partners, knowing that this is the beginning of an entirely new industry being brought to the State of New Jersey.”

EEW and GCIT have already made commitments to support the expansion of these programs, including securing donated welding equipment from welding manufacturer Lincoln Electric that will be used in production. Welding for these offshore wind tower foundations occurs onshore in fabrication facilities using specialized machines and welding consumables. To support these technical needs of this project, Lincoln Electric will also be conducting a “Train the Trainer” program for GCIT and other regional vocational school welding instructors focused on the primary welding processes and materials used in production. The training program offered will focus on theory and will provide hands-on experience using Lincoln Electric’s equipment and welding consumables used to weld these large foundations together. This training program will expose local students to the technology necessary to be productive employees in the offshore wind industry.

The NJEDA’s financial support will help GCIT secure additional specialized equipment and materials, fund instructor time for additional evening/weekend classes that will train adults, and market and promote these programs to attract a diverse array of participants.

Congressman Donald Norcross, who has been a strong proponent of New Jersey’s burgeoning offshore wind industry, welcomed the news of the MOU and applauded the impact it will have on the South Jersey’s economy.

“The offshore wind industry will provide long-term, family-sustaining careers for a new generation of workers in South Jersey,” Congressman Norcross said. “As the product of a registered apprenticeship, I know firsthand how valuable these educational opportunities are. This partnership will fill a demand for highly-skilled welders and painters in the offshore wind industry, which is quickly establishing itself as a powerful force for economic growth in South Jersey. This is another example of how renewable energy and jobs go hand-in-hand.”

Paulsboro Mayor Gary Stevenson echoed Congressman Norcross’s sentiments and noted that positive impact the expansion of GCIT’s welding and painting programs will have on Paulsboro residents.

“As Mayor of Paulsboro, and on behalf of the governing officials and our residents, we are very excited to hear about the progress being made on the beginning of the process to hire and train people, especially local residents, to work at the Port of Paulsboro,” Mayor Stevenson said. “There is much anticipation throughout on hearing the news. This is a huge step in getting folks good paying jobs, and hopefully buying homes and living in Paulsboro. This will have a huge POSITIVE impact on which our community and other local business’s will benefit greatly. This day has been a long time coming and we stand ready to assist in any way. I look forward to working with EEW, NJEDA, & GCIT officials in their efforts to begin the process of hiring and training of workers.”

These efforts complement awards earlier this year by the NJEDA to Rowan College of South Jersey to establish an offshore wind turbine technician training program and to Atlantic Cape Community College to establish an industry-recognized Global Wind Organization (GWO) safety training program and facility. The GWO facility will prepare New Jersey workers for jobs in the state’s growing offshore wind industry. Like the MOU announced today, these initiatives were funded by the NJBPU.

“New Jersey is emerging as a leader in offshore wind supply chain thanks to both the leadership of Governor Murphy and the collective efforts of industry leaders and other stakeholders working to put the Garden State at the forefront of this vital sector,” said NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “Funding critical programs such as the one GCIT is creating strengthens our ability to ensure New Jerseyans have the tools they need compete for the jobs of tomorrow.”

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

About GCIT

The Gloucester County Institute of Technology (GCIT) offers educational opportunities for Gloucester County high school students with a focus on becoming college and career ready. The school is a full-time, four-year comprehensive high school. The programs afford students a well-rounded experience with a full complement of extracurricular activities and athletics.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses call NJEDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

###

Trenton, N.J. (December 3, 2021) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that applications are open for the Offshore Wind Tax Credit Program as updated by the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act (ERA) and P.L. 2021, c. 160. With an overall budget of up to $350 million, the program provides tax credits, often up to 40-60 percent of the qualified capital investments made by a business in a qualified wind energy facility that will be employing at least 150 new, full-time employees.

“Between the New Jersey Wind Port, new offshore wind workforce development programs, and Governor Phil Murphy’s dedication to growing a greener, fairer New Jersey, the Garden State is quickly emerging as the American capital of offshore wind,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The Offshore Wind Tax Credit is a powerful financial tool that will complement these efforts by enabling global offshore wind companies to make the decision to locate, invest, hire, and most importantly, build a local supply chain here in New Jersey.”

Offshore wind is one of the high-growth, high-wage sectors the State identified in Governor Murphy’s Economic Development Plan and is a central component of Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050. As part of that plan, New Jersey has committed to producing 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.

To achieve these goals, the Governor has taken a comprehensive approach to establishing New Jersey as a global hub of offshore wind. In September, the State broke ground on the New Jersey Wind Port, a first-in-the-nation infrastructure investment that will provide a location for essential staging, assembly, and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind projects on the East Coast that has potential to create up to 1,500 manufacturing, assembly, and operations jobs and drive billions of dollars in economic growth. Through the Wind Institute, and in collaboration with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), the NJEDA has also awarded nearly $4 million to community colleges throughout the state to support safety training and turbine technician training programs.

The Offshore Wind Tax Credit complements these efforts by providing tax incentives to support businesses making investments in qualified wind energy facilities. Eligible applicants can receive tax credits, often up to 40-60 percent of a project’s qualified capital investments, which can be applied against corporate business tax or insurance premiums. Tax credits are released in increments of 20 percent of the total credit amount per year for five years. Businesses can also sell their tax credits for at least 75 percent of the credit amount.

To receive tax credits, businesses must meet minimum capital investment and job creation requirements. In line with the NJEDA’s commitment to fiscal responsibility, projects must demonstrate that as a result of the capital investment and the resultant job creation, the State of New Jersey will receive at least 110 percent of the total tax credit amount over a 5-year period. Applicants may request an extended net-benefit period of up to 20 years if they can present verifiable evidence of a longer company commitment to the state.

More information about the Offshore Wind Tax Credit, including detailed eligibility criteria, is available at https://www.njeda.gov/offshorewindtaxcredit/.

Applications for the Offshore Wind Tax Credit are now open and will be accepted on a rolling basis until the program cap is reached. Businesses interested in applying for the program should contact offshorewindtaxcredit@njeda.com.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) serves as the State’s principal agency for driving economic growth. The NJEDA is committed to making New Jersey a national model for inclusive and sustainable economic development by focusing on key strategies to help build strong and dynamic communities, create good jobs for New Jersey residents, and provide pathways to a stronger and fairer economy. Through partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders, the NJEDA creates and implements initiatives to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in the State and strengthen New Jersey’s long-term economic competitiveness.

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses call NJEDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

###

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 1, 2021) – The New Jersey Wind Port has been awarded the “Strategic Infrastructure Project of the Year” award at CG/LA Infrastructure’s 13th Annual North America Infrastructure Leadership Forum. This award, together with the significant interest from global companies in leasing space at the Wind Port, confirms the offshore wind industry’s strong and sustained interest in partnering with the State to turn New Jersey into an internationally recognized offshore wind hub that will drive economic growth and job creation for decades to come.

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a transformative project that will provide immediate environmental and economic benefits and set New Jersey on a path to a more sustainable and prosperous future,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “This award and the demonstrable interest the wind industry has already shown in the project once again confirm New Jersey as the capital of offshore wind in the United States.”

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a forward-thinking project that will move us closer to Governor Murphy’s vision for a stronger, fairer New Jersey and cement New Jersey’s position as the U.S. capital of offshore wind,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The Strategic Infrastructure Project of the Year award recognizes this project’s transformative potential, and the significant interest from global leaders in the wind industry shows that our strategy for growing this industry in New Jersey is working.”

“CG/LA Infrastructure is honored to present the NJEDA with 2021 Strategic Project of the Year Award for the New Jersey Wind Port. With 55% of the vote, the project was selected over the SOO Green HVDC Link, the Northeast Maglev, and Clean Path NY, which were each nominated from the 2021 North American Strategic100 Top Infrastructure Projects List. As the first greenfield offshore wind port in the US under construction and given the project’s strategic place in the nascent industry’s supply chain, we celebrate the project’s milestones thus far and look forward to celebrating future phases of development!” said Colin Whelan, Director of Projects, CG/LA Infrastructure.

Offshore wind is a central component of Governor Murphy’s Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050. As part of that plan, New Jersey has committed to producing 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035.

The New Jersey Wind Port is a first-in-the-nation infrastructure investment that will provide a location for essential staging, assembly, and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind projects on the East Coast. At full build-out, the Wind Port has the potential to create up to 1,500 manufacturing, assembly, and operations jobs and drive billions of dollars in economic growth.

The NJEDA recently announced that six leading offshore wind developers and manufacturers have submitted 16 non-binding offers to sublease space at the Wind Port that NJEDA staff have preliminarily determined to be compliant. All bidders put in multiple offers encompassing different parcels, project configurations, and levels of investments.

CG/LA Infrastructure is the authority on infrastructure strategy and project development. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., CG/LA advises senior-level leaders, policymakers, investors, and infrastructure project developers from more than 20 countries across the public-private spectrum. The North America Strategic Infrastructure Leadership Forum is a two-day conference featuring more than fifty infrastructure projects and 500 infrastructure executives. The forum is not sector-specific and features projects from highways and bridges to urban mass transit and energy.

More information about the New Jersey Wind Port is available at https://nj.gov/windport.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

###

TRENTON, N.J. (October 28, 2021) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) has received 16 non-binding offers to become tenants at the New Jersey Wind Port from six of the largest turbine manufacturers and offshore wind developers in the world. The offers were made in response to a recent Notice for Sublease of Property. This solicitation result confirms the offshore wind industry’s strong and sustained interest in partnering with the State to turn the New Jersey Wind Port into an internationally recognized offshore wind hub that will drive economic growth and job creation in South Jersey and throughout the Garden State.

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a game-changing investment that establishes New Jersey as the capital of offshore wind in the United States,” said Governor Phil Murphy, “The overwhelming response to this early opportunity to lease space at the Wind Port from the biggest global players in offshore wind shows that we are already well on our way to achieving this vision and driving economic growth that firmly aligns with our environmental goals.”

“I am not surprised that many of the most successful offshore wind manufacturers and developers in the world want to join us in this project,” said Senate President Steve Sweeney. “We have captured the world’s attention with a Wind Port that will be the nation’s first onshore site built with the purpose of servicing an offshore wind industry. It will position South Jersey at the epicenter of the emerging industry for wind farms off the Jersey Shore and along the entire Atlantic Seaboard. The economic benefits will be significant and long lasting. This project will create hundreds of construction jobs, support thousands of ancillary jobs, and generate $500 million in annual economic activity. It didn’t happen by accident. This is the realization of a vision that has been more than a decade in the making, going back to our Offshore Wind Economic Development Act of 2010. It was an investment in New Jersey’s future that capitalized on our strengths, including a highly skilled workforce and an effective transportation infrastructure, and our willingness to invest in the evolving clean energy sector. It is an investment in New Jersey’s future that will put our state in the forefront of a new industry that will offer expanding opportunities for generations to come.”

“We have taken significant steps to competitively and sustainably position New Jersey for the economy of the future,” said Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin. “Our state’s commitment to clean, renewable energy with our investment in offshore wind is just one key example of this bold and ambitious leadership. News from the NJEDA of several global leaders in offshore wind bidding to develop our nation’s largest port makes it is clear New Jersey has captured the world’s attention, and with that we are confident we will move forward with a development plan that best prioritizes the interests of our diverse communities.”

“I am pleased that so many offshore wind energy companies – including some of the largest in the world – have expressed interest in the New Jersey Wind Port,” said Assemblyman John Burzichelli. “With fewer restrictions and greater access to various wind markets, this site is perfectly positioned to serve as a hub for America’s offshore wind industry. Our efforts to establish this port will lead to the creation of hundreds of new jobs and will advance our state toward a clean energy future.”

“Not only will this port help our state achieve its clean energy goals, it will also help increase the use of offshore wind throughout the rest of the world,” said Assemblyman Adam Taliaferro. “The interest in the New Jersey Wind Port goes to show just how critical it will be in expanding the offshore wind industry. Enabling environmentally-friendly energy sources while creating good-paying, union jobs is a win-win for our region, and I look forward to seeing this project continue to advance.”

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a critical piece of Governor Murphy’s plan to curb the effects of climate change and set New Jersey on the path to long-term, sustainable economic growth,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “The significant interest we are seeing in the Port from many of the world’s largest offshore wind businesses validates our expectation that building this unique infrastructure resource would attract the attention of the global industry and establish New Jersey as a leader in the U.S. offshore wind industry. Going forward, this will drive investment and job creation in South Jersey and throughout the state.”

“Offshore wind is a major component of New Jersey’s Energy Master Plan and a pillar of the Governor’s plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “The development of the New Jersey Wind Port with manufacturing and marshalling facilities will lead to lowering the cost of offshore wind. The interest from leading offshore wind companies in the New Jersey Wind Port shows the critical role this infrastructure project will play in attracting offshore wind projects to New Jersey and provides strong evidence that Governor Murphy’s strategy for attracting offshore wind investment is working.”

“The interest we are seeing in the New Jersey Wind Port demonstrates that we do not have to choose between addressing climate change and creating jobs,” said Jane Cohen, Executive Director, Office of Climate Action and the Green Economy. “Through this project and Governor Murphy’s other efforts to combat climate change, we can drive economic growth, strengthen our workforce, and create family sustaining jobs for all New Jerseyans who want to be in involved in the green economy.”

On September 29^th, 2021, the NJEDA posted a Notice for Sublease of Property at the New Jersey Wind Port seeking non-binding offers from offshore wind developers and component manufacturers on four parcels of property at the Port, including two parcels of property that are being purpose-built for offshore wind marshalling, staging, and final assembly of turbines; and two parcels that are being purpose-built for offshore wind turbine component manufacturing and assembly. The deadline for submissions was Friday, October 22^nd, 2021.

Six bidders submitted 16 non-binding offers that NJEDA staff have preliminarily determined to be compliant. All bidders put in multiple offers encompassing different parcels, project configurations, and levels of investments. Compliant bidders included offshore wind developers and manufacturers.

Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores), Ørsted Wind Power North America LLC (Ørsted), and Beacon Wind LLC (Beacon Wind) are offshore wind developers that submitted offers for Parcels A and B1, which are being purpose-built for offshore wind marshalling, staging, and final assembly of turbines.

All are major players in the US offshore wind industry with projects ranging from Massachusetts to Maryland and have parent organizations with global offshore wind portfolios. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) has awarded more than 3,700 MW of offshore wind projects to Ørsted and Atlantic Shores, a 50:50 joint venture between Shell New Energies and EDF Renewables. Beacon Wind, a 50:50 joint venture between Equinor and bp, has been awarded projects by New York State.

GE Renewables US LLC (GE), Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Inc. (SGRE), and Vestas-American Wind Technology, Inc. (Vestas) are the three largest offshore wind turbine manufacturers in Europe and the United States. All three have submitted bids for both Parcels C and G, the two manufacturing parcels available at the Wind Port.

Sixteen offers have been preliminarily determined by Authority staff to be compliant with the solicitation’s requirements and will be scored in the coming days. After scoring is completed, the Authority anticipates beginning negotiations with some or all of the parties with compliant bids. The NJEDA Board will review and determine final compliance determinations, scoring, and approval of binding offers and subleases on a parcel-by-parcel basis in months to come, after the Authority completes negotiations.

More information about the New Jersey Wind Port is available at https://nj.gov/windport.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

###

TRENTON, N.J. (September 27, 2021) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board last week approved Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) as the winner of the NJ Wind Turbine Tech Training Challenge.

Supported by funding from the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and aligned with Governor Phil Murphy’s Wind Council recommendations, the NJ Wind Turbine Tech Training Challenge was launched in July as a competitive grant program to support a community college that collaborates with union trade organizations and industry partners to establish an offshore wind turbine technician training program. RCSJ will receive a grant of $819,019 to develop an industry-recognized wind turbine technician training program that will support the offshore wind industry and workforce in New Jersey.

“Thanks to Governor Murphy’s strong leadership, New Jersey is well on its way to becoming the capital of offshore wind in the U.S., bringing billions of dollars and thousands of jobs to our state,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “It is crucial that we take steps now to prepare to meet the industry’s workforce needs and to ensure equitable access to these opportunities for all New Jerseyans. We are proud to support RCSJ and our partners in labor and the trades to bring a comprehensive credential program to New Jersey that will ensure New Jersey students and workers have access to the training they need to work in offshore wind.”

“As New Jersey transitions to 100 percent clean energy, it is imperative that we cultivate a workforce prepared to meet the emerging opportunities that building and operating clean energy infrastructure offer,” said Joseph L. Fiordaliso, President of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities. “RCSJ has presented an impressive plan to ensure that the workforce of tomorrow has a place in our innovation economy and is grown right here in New Jersey. We are proud to support this exciting new initiative.”

“Offshore wind will create thousands of good-paying, permanent jobs. A critical step toward ensuring the state’s future success in this industry is strengthening our investment in workforce training and education today,” said Department of Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “As one of our key apprenticeship partners, RCSJ’s plans are an exciting step forward that will equip our workforce with the skills and knowledge they need to fill these family sustaining positions.”

“This critical initiative will ensure that New Jersey’s talent pipeline remains strong and our future economic growth prioritizes workforce opportunities for students to hone their skills and obtain high-quality credentials,” said NJ Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges. “RCSJ’s program will fuel a diverse and inclusive pipeline of talented workers and propel the state’s rapidly-growing clean energy sector to the forefront of the global stage.”

The Wind Turbine Tech Training Challenge is part of Governor Phil Murphy’s whole of government approach to generating 7.5 GW of offshore wind by 2035 and positioning New Jersey as a hub for the American offshore wind industry. Other initiatives include the construction of the New Jersey Wind Port, a state-of-the-art monopile manufacturing facility at the Port of Paulsboro, the Offshore Wind Tax Credit Program, and the Offshore Wind Safety Training Challenge. Taken together, these efforts will ensure New Jersey has the infrastructure, supply chain, and workforce needed to support offshore wind projects up and down the East Coast.

To ensure equitable access to the economic opportunities offshore wind creates, Governor Murphy established the Wind Council in 2019 to engage industry and local stakeholder groups to evaluate New Jersey’s existing workforce development assets and identify gaps that must be addressed to strengthen the state’s leadership position in offshore wind. On April 22, 2020, the Wind Council released a report summarizing its recommendations. Both the Wind Council report and the NJBPU’s New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan noted that there are currently no offshore wind turbine technician training programs in New Jersey and stressed the need to establish a program as soon as possible.

With funding provided by the NJBPU, the NJEDA launched the NJ Wind Turbine Tech Training Challenge in July to address this gap in New Jersey’s offshore wind ecosystem by providing grant funding to a New Jersey community college to collaborate with labor organizations and industry stakeholders to design and implement a curriculum that meets industry standards for wind turbine technician training.

An Evaluation Committee comprised of staff from the NJEDA, the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development selected RCSJ as the winner of the challenge. The college will use the grant funding it receives to develop a stackable credential training program that includes two certificates linked to a Registered Apprenticeship and an Associate Degree for wind turbine technology. These stackable programs include:

Wind Turbine Technician Career & Technical Education (CTE) Certificate: RCSJ will offer Global Wind Organization (GWO) Basic Technical Training (BTT). Students in this certificate program will complete the BTT modules as well an OSHA10 course and the GWO Basic Safety and Sea Survival Training (BST) modules to be offered by Atlantic Cape Community College at their campus in Atlantic City. A contract is pending between RCSJ and an industry-leading offshore wind training partner to deliver the training.
Wind Turbine Technician Academic Certificate: RCSJ will offer a 36-credit academic certificate in Wind Power and Turbine Technology through a combination of classroom and hands-on laboratory learning that provides students with knowledge and understanding of fluid hydraulic systems, electrical machinery, mechanical operations, computer and information technology skills, wind turbine operations, safety training, and soft skills. The certificates will be linked to a U.S. Department of Labor registered Wind Turbine Technician Apprenticeship.
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Wind Power and Turbine Technology: RCSJ will develop a full AAS degree in Wind Power and Turbine Technology. Additionally, RCSJ has committed to working with Rowan University to stack the Wind Turbine programs into a bachelor’s degree, and potentially to the masters and Ph.D. levels in related trades and science and technology fields.

To guide the implementation of these new programs, RCSJ will form a Wind Turbine Technician Program Advisory Board comprised of industry representatives, labor organizations, regional workforce representatives, subject matter experts in workforce training, and RCSJ’s offshore wind academic team. This Advisory Board will support and advise on curriculum development and establish pathways for employment for program graduates. To ensure diversity, equity, and inclusion, RCSJ will partner with labor unions, community-based organizations, and others to recruit a diverse student population and provide wrap around and other services to support students during their training.

RCSJ anticipates the two wind certificate programs will launch in January 2023 and the AAS degree program will launch in the Fall semester of 2023.

“We are pleased that the College’s grant proposal to develop a Wind Turbine Technician Training program was selected by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority. Rowan College of South Jersey is ready to do our part to advance the offshore wind efforts in New Jersey and within the New Jersey Wind Institute,” stated Dr. Frederick Keating, president of Rowan College of South Jersey. “We are committed to developing and launching credentialed training programs to meet the labor market demands an offshore wind facility brings to the state. These stackable certificates and degrees will become a cornerstone of the College’s Career and Technical Education Division, helping to serve the southern New Jersey region with emphasis on Gloucester and Cumberland counties.”

“Standing up effective, industry recognized training programs is crucial to ensuring New Jersey has the workforce necessary to support the many large-scale offshore wind projects coming to the state while following through on Governor Murphy’s commitment to make opportunities in offshore wind equitable and accessible to all,” said Jen Becker, Managing Director of the Wind Institute. “RCSJ’s winning proposal for a comprehensive turbine technician training program aligns closely with the industry’s needs and New Jersey’s commitments to providing high quality training opportunities for everyone who wants to get involved in the growing offshore wind industry.”

More information about the NJEDA’s work to grow New Jersey’s offshore wind ecosystem is available at https://www.njeda.gov/offshorewind.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

###

Port offers offshore wind developers and manufacturers unrivalled access to East Coast offshore wind sites, with room to grow

TRENTON, N.J. (September 23, 2021) The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) today announced that it will shortly be launching the next phase of its tenant selection process for the New Jersey Wind Port. The Wind Port, located on the Delaware River in Lower Alloways Creek in Salem County, will be a transformative, hub-style port serving offshore wind (OSW) projects in New Jersey and up and down the U.S. East Coast. The Port, which is due to commence construction this year, represents a new approach to economic development that will spur both job creation and opportunities for businesses throughout the offshore wind supply chain.

On September 9th, Governor Phil Murphy led the celebration for a groundbreaking at the site of the New Jersey Wind Port. The event kicked off a new chapter for the Wind Port, a first-in-the-nation infrastructure investment that will provide a location for essential staging, assembly, and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind projects on the East Coast. The event also included the signing of a project labor agreement (PLA) for the project and was followed by the signing of a 78-year lease between the NJEDA and PSEG for the site. The State is committed to using union labor to construct the Wind Port and intends to set a new standard for inclusion of minority and women workers and business owners. Construction is targeted to begin in 2021.

The New Jersey Wind Port has the potential to create up to 1,500 manufacturing, assembly, and operations jobs, as well as hundreds of union construction jobs in New Jersey, and projects supported by the Wind Port will drive billions of dollars in economic growth.

The NJEDA will shortly be seeking non-binding offers from OSW developers and component manufacturers on four parcels of property at the Port. Available properties include:

Two parcels of property with the potential to be purpose-built for offshore wind marshalling, staging and final assembly of turbines; and
Two parcels of property with the potential to be purpose-built for offshore wind turbine component manufacturing and assembly.

NJEDA anticipates that certain parcels will be available for sublease from 2023. A notice for the sublease of property will be issued in coming weeks and will be available at Bidding Opportunities – NJEDA.

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a strategic economic driver that not only furthers Governor Phil Murphy’s goal of 100 percent clean energy for New Jersey by 2050, but also presents extraordinary economic potential for businesses up and down the OSW manufacturing supply chain,” said NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan. “Wind turbines are comprised of numerous elements, and each element in the manufacturing process represents an entry point for businesses and a need for skilled workers. These available properties offer incomparable access to opportunity in the heart of this rapidly emerging manufacturing hub.”

The Port is situated at the geographical center of the United States’ burgeoning OSW sector – with in excess of 38 gigawatts (“GW”) of committed and planned OSW projects along the East Coast, including 7.5 GW of committed projects off the coast of New Jersey.

Based on the current design, the Port will offer OSW industry tenants the following key features:

Access to the Atlantic Ocean free of vertical restrictions;
Upland acreage purpose-built for marshalling and component manufacturing;
A wide approach channel from the main Delaware River Channel;
A purpose-built heavy-lift wharf, comprising both delivery and installation berths; and
Heavy-haul road connections between inland port parcels and the Wharf.

With proximity to 50 percent of current East Coast OSW development areas, and unmatched transportation connectivity to major United States and overseas cities, there is no better place to anchor and grow the nation’s OSW industry. Further information on the Port is available at: https://www.nj.gov/windport/.

Home to a high concentration of skilled labor, a well-established maritime industry and workforce, and a network of highly-regarded colleges and universities, New Jersey is ideally-placed to drive the development of the offshore wind industry in the United States.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses call NJEDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

###

LOWER ALLOWAYS CREEK, N.J. (September 14, 2021) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and PSEG have signed a lease allowing for a term of up to 78-years on land that will be home to the New Jersey Wind Port in Salem County, New Jersey, further positioning the state as a hub for clean energy and the U.S. offshore wind industry. The port will provide a location for essential staging, assembly, and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind along the East Coast. The Wind Port is located adjacent to PSEG’s nuclear generating site, which today provides more than 90% of New Jersey’s carbon-free electricity, and together, offshore wind and nuclear energy will deliver powerful support for our state and national clean energy ambitions.

“The New Jersey Wind Port is a transformational investment that will create hundreds of good jobs and drive billions of dollars of economic activity in South Jersey and throughout the State,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “This is a vital project that will help communities recover from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and move us closer to Governor Murphy’s vision for a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy. The NJEDA is proud to partner with PSEG to bring this valuable new infrastructure asset to life.”

“The lease signing with the NJEDA is cause for celebration as the New Jersey Wind Port will provide a foundation for even more carbon-free energy in our region,” PSEG Chief Operating Officer Ralph LaRossa said. “Alongside PSEG’s nuclear plants, the New Jersey Wind Port will establish South Jersey as the heart of New Jersey’s clean energy economy. By supporting the development of renewable offshore wind power, this lease and the facility to come will establish New Jersey as the destination for clean energy development, operations, training, skills, and innovation.”

“Salem County and South Jersey are already home to exceptional innovation, operations, and a workforce skilled in generating clean energy for millions of customers. And now, with the addition of the New Jersey Wind Port, PSEG is proud to support the state as we become the hub for development of carbon-free resources for the East Coast,” PSEG Nuclear President and Chief Nuclear Officer Eric Carr said. “PSEG and PSEG Nuclear welcome broad partnerships such as ours with the NJEDA and we look forward to continuing to drive innovation, growth, and investment in the clean energy economy.”

Offshore wind is a central component of Governor Phil Murphy’s Energy Master Plan to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2050. As part of that plan, New Jersey has committed to producing 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2035. Up and down the East Coast, offshore wind investment through 2035 is anticipated to exceed $150 billion. The U.S. offshore wind industry is expected to create 83,000 new (direct) jobs by 2030, most of which will be in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. Through strategic investments and development, New Jersey can become a national leader in numerous portions of the offshore wind supply chain and become central to the clean energy economy.

The New Jersey Wind Port is located on an artificial island on the eastern shores of the Delaware River, southwest of the City of Salem. With its expansive footprint, lack of height restrictions, and easy access to the Atlantic Ocean’s wind farm lease areas, the Wind Port is one of a select few ports on the East Coast that can house offshore wind turbine marshalling and manufacturing. A key component of offshore wind turbine marshalling is the vertical assembly of turbine towers, which are hundreds of feet tall and cannot fit beneath bridges, power lines, and other naturally-occurring barriers that would impose height restrictions. No other port in the region is able to support the marshalling and manufacturing operations that will take place at the Wind Port.

Job Creation

The New Jersey Wind Port has the potential to create more than 1,500 manufacturing, assembly and operations jobs, as well as hundreds of construction jobs. Many positions at the Wind Port will be trade jobs and require skill certifications, like welding or an electrician’s license, but will not require a college degree. The construction phase of the Wind Port also will create hundreds of union jobs. Last week, Construction Manager (CM) AECOM-Tishman signed a project labor agreement (PLA) with the United Building Trades Council of Southern New Jersey AFL-CIO. The NJEDA is also working with AECOM-Tishman to ensure at least 25 percent of subcontractors for the port construction are small businesses and at least 15 percent are women-, minority-, or veteran- owned. The Wind Port project also includes worker diversity goals of 18 percent people of color and 6.9 percent women.

The New Jersey Wind Port site was selected in June 2020 after a 22-month assessment process, including engagement with industry, government, and environmental stakeholders. The NJEDA has been preparing the site and finalizing design since summer 2020. It is more than five miles from the nearest New Jersey residential area and provides ample space to grow operations over time.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

To learn more about NJEDA resources for businesses call NJEDA Customer Care at 609-858-6767 or visit https://www.njeda.gov and follow @NewJerseyEDA on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

About PSEG

Public Service Enterprise Group Inc. (PSEG) (NYSE: PEG) is a publicly traded diversified energy company with approximately 13,000 employees. Headquartered in Newark, N.J., PSEG’s principal operating subsidiaries are: Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G), PSEG Power and PSEG Long Island. PSEG is a Fortune 500 company included in the S&P 500 Index and has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for North America for 13 consecutive years (https://corporate.pseg.com).

Visit PSEG at:

###

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (July 6, 2021) – The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the New Jersey Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) today announced that Atlantic Cape Community College (Atlantic Cape) has won the New Jersey Offshore Wind Safety Training Challenge. Atlantic Cape will receive $3 million to establish an industry-recognized Global Wind Organization (GWO) safety training program and facility to prepare New Jersey workers for jobs in the state’s growing offshore wind industry.

The Offshore Wind Safety Training Challenge is part of the Murphy administration’s whole of government approach to achieving the Governor’s goal of generating 7.5 GW of offshore wind power by 2035 and positioning New Jersey as a hub for the American offshore wind industry. Other initiatives include the construction of the New Jersey Wind Port, a state-of-the-art monopile manufacturing facility at the Port of Paulsboro, and the NJ Wind Turbine Tech Training Challenge, a competitive grant program that will award up to $1 million to a New Jersey community college that collaborates with union trade organizations and industry partners to establish an offshore wind turbine technician training program.

“Offshore wind is a priority sector for the Murphy administration that has unparalleled potential to drive long-term, equitable economic growth. Establishing a Global Wind Organization safety training program and facility in New Jersey will make jobs in offshore wind more accessible to New Jersey residents and will help to establish the state as a hub of the growing American offshore wind industry,” said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Atlantic Cape’s winning proposal will bring this training program to a community at the heart of New Jersey’s growing wind industry and help to ensure equitable access to opportunity in offshore wind.”

“Providing equitable access to innovative opportunities is vital to building a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy that works for all residents. This collaboration between the employer community and the higher education sector is essential to ensuring that the postsecondary-to-employment ecosystem is well-positioned for the future,” said Secretary of Higher Education Dr. Brian Bridges. “We are excited to work with Atlantic Cape to create new opportunities for New Jerseyans to gain access to the critical training, education, and skills required to compete for jobs in offshore wind.”

“Training and certifying New Jersey workers for jobs in offshore wind is a critical aspect of growing this important new industry in New Jersey and will ensure in-state candidates can benefit from its many exciting, once-in-a-generation opportunities,” said New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “NJBPU is proud to provide the funding to support Atlantic Cape’s proposal to establish this important safety program in Atlantic City.”

“Atlantic Cape is thrilled to have been selected as the winner of the Offshore Wind Safety Training Challenge. Offshore wind is an exciting industry that will open doors for thousands of New Jerseyans, and we are thrilled to play a part in preparing students and workers to participate in this exciting new industry at our Worthington Atlantic City Campus,” said Dr. Barbara Gaba, President of Atlantic Cape Community College. “We appreciate the support Governor Murphy and the NJEDA, OSHE, and NJBPU are providing to make this possible, and look forward to launching this new program in the near future.”

Offshore wind is a rapidly expanding international industry that Governor Murphy has prioritized as a target sector for driving long-term, sustainable economic growth. To date, the NJBPU has awarded two offshore wind solicitations. Ørsted’s 1,100 MW Ocean Wind project won the first solicitation in June 2019, and last week the NJBPU awarded a combined 2,658 MW of offshore wind capacity to EDF/Shell’s Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind and Ørsted’s Ocean Wind II. This award, which will bring New Jersey’s total planned offshore wind capacity to over 3,700 MW, is the nation’s largest combined award.

To ensure equitable access to the economic opportunities offshore wind creates, Governor Murphy established the WIND Council in 2019 to engage industry and local stakeholder groups to evaluate New Jersey’s existing workforce development assets and identify gaps that must be addressed to strengthen the state’s leadership position in offshore wind. On April 22, 2020, the WIND Council released a report summarizing its recommendations.

One of the key workforce development needs the WIND Council identified is the creation of opportunities for workers to receive GWO Basic Safety and Sea Survival Training. The GWO is a non-profit body founded by leading wind turbine manufacturers and operators that aims to support an injury-free environment in the wind industry. It has set the industry-recognized standard for safety training and many manufacturers and owners of wind turbines require workers to obtain certifications by completing these trainings. To achieve New Jersey’s target of generating 7,500 MW by 2035, at least 1,825 workers will need to complete GWO Basic Safety and Sea Survival Training between 2023 and 2035.

As the winner of the Offshore Wind Safety Training Challenge, Atlantic Cape will enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with OSHE for a $3 million grant to develop a GWO certified training program and facility to be operational by the end of 2022. Funding for the grant comes from the NJBPU’s New Jersey’s Clean Energy Program™ (NJCEP). The winner of the Challenge was determined by an evaluation committee comprised of NJEDA and OSHE staff that reviewed all proposals received from Challenge applicants based on the scoring criteria framework established when the Challenge launched.

Atlantic Cape’s proposal included extensive stakeholder support; identified opportunities for collaboration across stakeholders including the City of Atlantic City, labor unions, chambers of commerce, Stockton University, and the Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City; and demonstrated a commitment to prioritizing diversity and inclusion. The college’s GWO-certified partners are Arcon Training Center, a woman-owned business that recently executed a similar project in Maryland, and AIS Training and 3t Energy Group, which both have significant experience running GWO-certified programs in the United Kingdom.

In addition to developing the training program, Atlantic Cape will also build a 1,700-square- foot addition at their Atlantic City campus for the Basic Safety Training modules and utilize a rehabilitated section at Gardner’s Basin for the Sea Survival module. This facility will be strategically located near established offshore wind lease areas off the coast of New Jersey and in close proximity to the proposed Ocean Wind Operations and Maintenance port in Atlantic City.

About the New Jersey Economic Development Authority

###