Governor Murphy Signs Executive Order to Increase Offshore Wind Goal to 7,500 Megawatts by 2035

Governor Phil Murphy, alongside First Lady Tammy Murphy and former Vice President Al Gore at the Liberty Science Center, today signed Executive Order No. 92, raising New Jersey’s offshore wind goal from 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind-generated electricity by 2030 to 7,500 megawatts by 2035. The Executive Order, which more than doubles New Jersey’s offshore wind goal, will deliver the clean, renewable energy generation needed to meet the State’s goals of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030 and a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2050, as well as create thousands of jobs. New Jersey is committed to pursuing responsible offshore wind development with the full involvement of key stakeholders, including the commercial and recreational fishing industries.  

“There is no other renewable energy resource that provides us with either the electric-generation or economic-growth potential of offshore wind,” said Governor Murphy. “When we reach our goal of 7,500 megawatts, New Jersey’s offshore wind infrastructure will generate electricity to power more than 3.2 million homes and meet fifty percent of our state’s electric power need. Our offshore wind industry will generate billions of dollars in investments in New Jersey’s future, that will, in turn, create thousands of jobs. We have an immense opportunity to maximize our potential and make this region – and, specifically New Jersey – the nexus of the global offshore wind industry.”

“From rising sea-levels to climbing temperatures, we are beginning to experience the devastating impacts of climate change here in New Jersey,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “By significantly expanding our offshore wind goals, we will make our state more resilient against the effects of climate change and protect our environment for future generations. Today’s Executive Order signals a critical step forward in developing our renewable energy infrastructure and reaching a 100 percent clean energy economy by 2050.”

“As our federal government abdicates its responsibility to confront the climate crisis, our transition to a clean energy future is being led by states like New Jersey, and by leaders like my friend Governor Phil Murphy,” said Vice President Al Gore. “Today’s announcement couldn’t be more timely and more needed, as climate-related extreme weather events continue to wreak havoc on our communities. With this executive order, Governor Murphy is unleashing the unprecedented economic and job creating opportunities of clean, wind energy.”

Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey has become a national leader in renewable energy sources and offshore wind development. In January 2018, as one of his first acts in office, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 8, which directed the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities to fully implement the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act (OWEDA) and begin the process of moving the state toward a goal of 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy generation by the year 2030. Governor Murphy also established the Interagency Taskforce on Offshore Wind, comprised of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the Economic Development Authority, the Department of the Treasury, and the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, to work collaboratively to establish and support vibrant an offshore wind market in the state.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities issued a solicitation for 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind energy generation and awarded Orsted with the contract earlier this year. The Board also developed a proposed timeline to consider two future solicitations for 1,200 megawatts of offshore wind generation to take place in 2020 and 2022 providing visibility for offshore wind developers, suppliers, and stakeholders. The Board recently adopted the Offshore Wind Energy Certificate funding rule, which establishes the process by which an offshore wind program is funded and how revenues earned from each project flow back to rate payers.

Governor Murphy directed the New Jersey Economic Development Authority to encourage offshore wind industry investment and the development of offshore wind port infrastructure. By establishing the Offshore Wind Tax Credit Program and the Offshore Wind Supply Chain Registry, the state has attracted investment into our offshore wind industry and wind-related projects. To support these investments, Governor Murphy signed Executive Order No. 79 to establish a Council for the Wind Innovation and New Development Institute to develop a plan for the creation of a hub for the offshore wind industry. The Economic Development Authority also recently launched the Offshore Wind Technical Assistance Program to support local companies and develop the skills needed to participate in the offshore wind industry.

Executive Order No. 92, which will be effective immediately, directs the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, and other state agencies with responsibilities arising under OWEDA to take all necessary actions to promote the development of wind energy off the coast of New Jersey to meet a goal of 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy generation by the year 2035. This new order rescinds Paragraph 1 of Executive Order No. 8, which had established the previous goal of 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy generation by 2030. 

For a copy of Executive Order No. 92 click here.