By Christen Smith

New Jersey doubled its offshore wind goal on Tuesday, committing the Garden State to develop 7,500 MW of generation by 2035 in hopes of becoming the “nexus of the global offshore wind industry.”

Gov. Phil Murphy, flanked by First Lady Tammy Murphy and former Vice President Al Gore, signed the executive order at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City — the latest development in the state’s march toward 100% clean energy by 2050.

“There is no other renewable energy resource that provides us with either the electric-generation or economic-growth potential of offshore wind,” Murphy said. “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 50% of our state’s electric power need.”

In June, the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities selected Ørsted to develop the first 1,100 MW of offshore wind planned for the state. (See Orsted Wins Record OSW Bid in NJ.) Regulators will solicit bids for two more 1,200-MW projects in 2020 and 2022.

“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,” Gore said. “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.”

The projects represent just a fraction of the potential researchers say offshore wind development holds along the Mid-Atlantic coast. University of Delaware Professor Willett Kempton said in April his analysis concludes a hypothetical buildout from New Jersey to North Carolina could add as much as 80 GW to the grid. (See Big Prospects for Offshore Wind in PJM.)

Companies, however, struggle with the logistics of building offshore wind generation in PJM. Anbaric Development Partners asked FERC on Monday to order the RTO to allow developers of offshore transmission “platforms” to obtain injection rights, saying PJM’s Tariff violates the commission’s open access requirements and is discriminatory. (See Anbaric Seeks FERC Help on OSW Tx.)

The transmission developer said it was forced to file its complaint after a stakeholder initiative to consider changing PJM’s rules stalled in September. (See “PJM Recommends Sunsetting Offshore Wind Special Sessions” in PJM PC/TEAC Briefs: Sept. 12, 2019.)

Liz Burdock, CEO of the Business Network for Offshore Wind, said up to 8,240 MW of offshore wind projects are currently under development on the East Coast, with “steel in the water” promised by 2026. New Jersey’s latest commitment will further encourage investment in the industry’s component manufacturing inside the U.S. — a major boon for the national economy.

“This additional 3,500 MW will accelerate the development of the state’s offshore wind industry and supply chain, and will translate into more economic opportunities, and more jobs, up and down the New Jersey coastline,” she said.