Murphy signs bill expanding definition of qualified offshore wind project

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Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law on Tuesday a bill to expand the definition of a qualified offshore wind project, which amends an existing law that is commonly referred to as the “Offshore Wind Economic Development Act.”

The measure requires developers seeking New Jersey Board of Public Utilities approval as a qualified offshore wind project to include within its detailed description for the project any transmission facilities and interconnection facilities to be installed.

The bill allows the NJBPU to conduct one or more competitive solicitations for open access offshore wind transmission facilities designed to expedite the collection or delivery of offshore wind energy from qualified projects to the electric transmission system.

Asbury Park-based Anbaric, a company that is focused on planning and scaling renewable energy, said it welcomes the new law.

“This new law makes tremendous progress toward creating efficient and successful transmission infrastructure to deliver wind energy generated off the coast of New Jersey to our electric grid,” Janice Fuller, New Jersey president of Anbaric said. “Allowing the Board of Public Utilities to bid projects specifically for open-access transmission is an enormous step forward in creating a more robust, affordable offshore wind industry in New Jersey, while minimizing the impact on our ocean environment and critical fisheries.”