Sweeney Center hosts offshore wind conference

Matthew Fazelpoor//February 21, 2024//

The 2023 Offshore Wind Technology Conference was held at the Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy at Rowan University, bringing together industry leaders, government officials, and other experts to highlight the progress and challenges of offshore wind — and especially how South Jersey will play a role in its development. - PROVIDED BY WILLIAM MENDEZ/ROWAN UNIVERSITY

Matthew Fazelpoor//February 21, 2024//

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A notable lineup of leaders and stakeholders in the offshore wind space are gathering Wednesday at Rowan University for the Sweeney Center for Public Policy‘s third energy conference.

“Moving Forward on Offshore Wind: New Challenges, New Competition” runs from 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. at Rowan’s Business Hall in Glassboro. Guest can attend in-person or virtually.

Notable speakers include Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy and New Jersey Economic Development Authority CEO Tim Sullivan. Additionally, leaders from three approved projects here in New Jersey will speak:

Terence Kelly, head of external affairs, Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind
Wes Jacobs, project director, Leading Light Wind
Damian Bednarz, managing director, Attentive Energy

Rowan University officials and other stakeholders will also deliver remarks. And the event includes panel discussions on topics, such as “Building New Jersey’s Offshore Wind Farms” and “Developing an Offshore Wind Industry on the Atlantic Seaboard.”

Timing is everything

The conference comes at a critical time for offshore wind. The sector is central to Gov. Phil Murphy’s ambitious clean energy goals and initiatives.

In the fall, Orsted cancelled its Ocean Wind 1 and 2 projects. Meanwhile, last month the BPU approved the Leading Light Wind and Attentive Energy projects. And, there’s the recent operational launch of the nation’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm. However, Vineyard Wind is located off the coast of Massachusetts.

On July 6 at the EEW AOS manufacturing plant in Paulsboro, Gov. Phil Murphy signed three bills into law to promote a comprehensive vision for a 21st-century New Jersey economy, including legislation making major investments in the offshore wind and film industries and legislation promoting urban and residential development. — The EEW American Offshore Structures manufacturing plant in Paulsboro is the first monopile fabrication facility in the U.S. – PROVIDED BY RICH HUNDLEY III/NJ GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

“Orsted’s decision to pull out of its Ocean Wind projects in New Jersey was a serious setback and followed the cancellation of three New England projects,” said Mark Magyar, Sweeney Center director and conference organizer. “However, the latest round of BPU awards not only reinvigorated New Jersey’s offshore wind initiative, but also guaranteed that those turbines will be built on monopiles and towers manufactured in New Jersey.”

Magyar noted that the Vineyard Wind project proved that the offshore wind development on the Atlantic Seaboard is achievable.

“And offers a roadmap for New Jersey to follow,” he added, pointing to momentum in New York and Virginia as well. “Despite the setbacks, offshore wind development is moving forward.”

Stay with NJBIZ for a recap and analysis of the conference.