“Extreme weather events and severe flooding across the country leave no room for doubt – the effects of climate change are becoming more impactful and more aggressive, and we must do the same,” said Murphy. “Our renewed and strengthened commitment to offshore wind development testifies to my Administration’s understanding that, regardless of our impressive success to date, there is always more that we can do to make New Jersey more sustainable while further advancing the state’s economic vitality.”

The industry is on the fast track in New Jersey, including the state's first such effort, Ocean Wind 1. And while that project progresses – and remains central to the state’s offshore wind efforts – another in South Jersey that is also an integral piece of the puzzle is gaining steam.

Atlantic Power Transmission's collaboration with Morrison Energy to build and train a local, union-based workforce would be executed if APT is awarded its bid under the New Jersey Offshore Wind SAA Transmission Solicitation. According to the partners, the proposed fabrication facilities efforts would also serve as the foundation for future projects.

The NJEDA is expanding the footprint of the Alloways Creek location where the first-of-its-kind infrastructure investment will lay a foundation for the state’s burgeoning offshore wind industry with the addition of a 109.4-acre property.

Following its release by the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the state will now review the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the project, which analyzes potential impacts to natural, historic and cultural resources, and will provide feedback accordingly.

Offshore wind represents one of the largest engineering projects in recent memory and development work is proceeding rapidly in Trenton, the counties and among higher education institutions.

In New Jersey, the energy company is partnering with PSEG on the Ocean Wind 1 project, with the sector poised to become a potentially multibillion dollar one that Gov. Phil Murphy is betting on heavily to succeed.

The appointment, announced Thursday during Gov. Phil Murphy's Keynote Address at the Business Network for Offshore Wind’s International Partnering Forum in Atlantic City, establishes the project from the sector leader and partner PSEG as the first tenant of the New Jersey Wind Port.

The Blackstone portfolio company, based in Princeton, will dedicate the funds to creating a workforce hub — including education, training and research institutions.

The new agreement with the Salem County Vocational Technical School is essentially modeled after a similar one from December with Gloucester County Institute of Technology.

Environmentalists aren’t the only ones cheering the Garden State’s ambitious plans to generate renewable energy with the projects.

The U.S. Department of the Interior is in the process of selling more than 488,000 acres located in a stretch of shallow ocean water near the coasts of the Garden State and Long Island known as the New York Bight.