Offshore Wind Accelerates Despite Unknowns

 On March 6, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) released its draft solicitation guidance document (SGD) for its fourth offshore wind (OSW) solicitation and accepted public comments on the document until March 27, 2024. The NJBPU also held a virtual public meeting on March 20 at which COA opposed the proposal. In the name of good science, due diligence, good governance, and before any OSW development is constructed or additional contracts awarded, COA stands behind its call for:

1. key environmental pilot studies be completed,

2. an investigation into the spike in marine mammal deaths, and

3. a review of the results of the pending federal Government Accountability Office cost benefit analysis.

In this fourth solicitation, NJBPU seeks to approve up to an additional 4,000 megawatts (MW) of OSW energy capacity. New Jersey previously approved 7,500 MW in the first three OSW solicitations despite environmental and economic data gaps, industry turmoil, and public concern.

NJBPU holds public stakeholder meeting for the fourth solicitation for more offshore wind

New York Also Fast-Tracks Offshore Wind, Approving Project Rebids

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) allowed three corporations to rebid financially nonviable offshore wind contracts as part of the state’s fourth solicitation. Empire Wind 1 rebid its 80,000-acre project off Monmouth County, NJ, and Nassau County, NY, and Ørsted rebid its 86,000-acre Sunrise Wind project off Suffolk County, NY. In early January 2024, Empire Wind 2 cancelled its original agreement with New York due to macroeconomic factors with plans to rebid at a higher price for future development. Empire Wind is being developed solely by Equinor, a Norwegian energy company, as its original co-partner British Petroleum (BP) sold its stake to Equinor on January 30, 2024.

More Wind Project Proposals Off NJ?

The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management announced it will initiate the environmental review of a proposed 81,129-acre wind energy project located 8.4 miles offshore New Jersey. On March 18, 2024, BOEM published a Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) submitted by Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC (Atlantic Shores). During the public comment period, BOEM will hold two virtual and three in-person public meetings, one of which is in Asbury Park. For more information about where and how to attend, visit cleanoceanaction.org.