The potential for offshore wind power production is very high off the Jersey Shore, according to Turning to the Wind, a new Environment New Jersey Research and Policy Center report.
Using data from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the report shows that as much as 1,700MW of wind power could be built in the state in the next 5 years with the right policies in place.
The report release comes on the heels of lame duck legislation action on legislation to require the BPU to provide a 30-day window for applications for an off-shore wind project off Atlantic City. The legislation (S2711/A4128) passed the Assembly by a 48-21 vote on December 17 and will likely receive a vote in the State Senate before the end of the session on January 11. The bill would directly benefit Fishermens’ Energy that has proposed a 25MW project off Atlantic City. In November, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) successfully auctioned off the two wind energy areas off the Jersey Shore totaling 344,000 acres. The offshore wind leases were awarded to Res Americas and U.S. Wind Inc. and the final total sale price was nearly US$2 million. The wind energy area begins about seven nautical miles off the coast from Atlantic City and extend 21 nautical miles off the shore.
