Dive Brief:
- The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced Wednesday that it has awarded 2.4 GW of capacity to the Leading Light Wind project and around 1.3 GW of capacity to Attentive Energy Two as part of the state’s third offshore wind solicitation.
- Leading Light Wind is being developed by Invenergy and energyRe, and Attentive Energy Two is a joint venture of TotalEnergies and Corio Generation. Both have an estimated completion year of 2031.
- The announcement puts New Jersey’s offshore wind commitments back on track after the state lost a potential 2.2 GW in November, when Ørsted canceled two projects along the coast.
Dive Insight:
The two procurements come close to meeting the maximum goal of 4 GW that the state had set for this solicitation round. New Jersey’s funding for offshore wind is based on awarding Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Certificates to qualifying projects.
“New Jersey now has more than 5.2 GW contracted, marking substantial progress toward its 11 GW by 2040 goal,” the Oceantic Network said in a statement. “Along with these projects and Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, which is currently under development, the state has already made huge strides in developing its offshore wind supply chain.”
Oceanic Network CEO Liz Burdock congratulated New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, D, and the NJBPU on a “bold and successful procurement process.”
After Ørsted canceled its two Ocean Wind projects, Murphy had faced criticism from New Jersey Senate Minority Leader Anthony Bucco, R, who called the projects a “boondoggle” and said the cancelations had exposed Murphy’s “failed progressive offshore wind agenda.”
Murphy’s administration doubled down on its offshore wind commitments after the cancelations, however, announcing later in November that it would accelerate the schedule for its fourth offshore wind solicitation. That solicitation is expected to launch early this year, with project awards granted in early 2025.
“Governor Murphy’s leadership is positioning New Jersey as a significant hub for offshore wind development,” said Anne Reynolds, the American Clean Power Association’s vice president for offshore wind.
Both Leading Light Wind and Attentive Energy Two have committed to supporting the creation of a tower manufacturer at the New Jersey Wind Port, and sourcing monopiles from an EEW facility at the Port of Paulsboro, according to the NJBPU.
Reynolds said this announcement marked “a significant commitment to developing the New Jersey Wind Port, which will generate up to $500 million in new economic activity annually for the Garden State.”
In separate news releases, TotalEnergies said the development of Attentive Energy Two “is expected to provide up to $105 million in community investments across the state,” and Invenergy said the Leading Light Wind project partners have allocated up to $150 million for a “comprehensive” community benefits program.