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New Jersey’s Energy Need: Clean. Renewable. Pollution-Free.
Most of New Jersey's energy supply comes from polluting power plants, with about 25 percent of this energy coming from outside the state. Offshore wind, on the other hand, provides clean, renewable, in-state electricity without contributing to the threat of global warming. This fossil fuel-free energy emits no pollution at all. And since the wind is always free and unchanged by movements in global markets, the price of electricity from an offshore wind park is stable for the life of the project.
Helping New Jersey Meet Its Growing Energy Needs
The state’s demand for energy continues to grow as more people use more power. This growth does not mean that additional polluting power plants need to be built in the Garden State. In fact, a 2004 study by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) estimated that there are 24,000 megawatts (MW) of potential wind power off of our coast, enough wind to power millions of New Jersey homes. And, while only a fraction of this potential wind power will be captured for energy-producing purposes, this plentiful supply of clean, renewable energy does confirm that offshore wind can help meet New Jersey’s energy needs today – and still protect our shores and the environment for tomorrow.
New Jersey can take a leadership role in the development of offshore wind and serve as a model for the rest of the nation. To that end, the Governor’s 2006 Blue Ribbon Panel on Offshore Wind recommended a 350 MW pilot project to study offshore wind’s potential to help meet growing energy demand with clean, renewable resources. A solicitation has been issued by the NJ BPU for the offshore wind pilot project. This solicitation will help the state meet its Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) – one of the first in the country – mandating that 20 percent of the state’s electricity come from renewable resources by 2020. And also by 2020, the state must dramatically reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels. Offshore wind is by far the best way for New Jersey to meet these important goals.
The NJ BPU is well along in its efforts to plan for the future. The state’s Energy Master Plan is expected to call for substantial increases in the generation of energy from renewable sources and the implementation of comprehensive energy efficiency measures. Offshore wind energy can provide significant amounts of renewable energy where it’s needed most – near growing coastal load centers – and avoids the need to rely upon the constrained electric transmission delivery system receiving power from other states.
Protecting Our View and Our Environment
While offshore wind parks are new to the U.S., the technology is firmly established and well-proven. European countries have extensive experience operating over 25 offshore wind parks; some have been operating since the early 1990’s. The Europeans have learned in their studies to date that the wind parks off their shores are safe for marine and avian life. The world-class development team that Bluewater Wind has recruited will bring this experience to New Jersey. We are also working with leading local experts to ensure that our offshore wind parks protect the state’s unique ecosystems. In this way, we can help the state take full advantage of offshore wind’s numerous environmental benefits.
The Bluewater Wind team has identified potential wind park sites off the Jersey coast. Each is more than 10 highway miles offshore and would provide abundant supplies of clean, renewable, and pollution-free electricity while protecting wildlife, the marine environment and New Jersey’s scenic seascapes. Bluewater Wind looks forward to working with New Jersey’s broad array of interested stakeholders to help build a new, reliable and clean energy future for New Jersey, by New Jersey.
