A part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan to create jobs, develop domestic clean energy resources and reduce CO2 emissions, the competitive lease sale is scheduled for 09 November 2015.
According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory the New Jersey Wind Energy Area has potential to generate at least 3,400MW of wind power to meet the needs of 1.2 million homes.
The US Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell: "On the heels of this summer’s historic ‘steel-in-the-water’ milestone for the nation’s first commercial offshore wind farm, today’s announcement marks another major step in standing up a sustainable offshore wind program for Atlantic coast communities.
"This effort took significant engagement and cooperation with New Jersey and other stakeholders to advance clean energy development and reduce potential use conflicts, which moves us closer to harnessing the enormous potential of wind energy along the Atlantic coast."
The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates the New Jersey Wind Energy Area to support at least 3,400MW of commercial wind generation, required to power about 1.2 million homes.
About 13 companies have been qualified to bid in the lease sale of New Jersey Wind Energy Area, which will be auctioned as two leases including South Lease Area comprising 160,480 acres; as well as North Lease Area involving 183,353 acres.
The firms include Convalt Energy, GSOE I, EDF Renewable Energy Development, Energy Management, Fishermen’s Energy, Green Sail Energy, Iberdrola Renewables, New Jersey Offshore Wind, OffshoreMW, RES America Developments, Sea Breeze Energy, US Mainstream Renewable Power (Offshore) and U.S. Wind.
BOEM director Abigail Ross Hopper said: "We will continue to work closely with members of the New Jersey Renewable Energy Task Force to ensure that our intergovernmental partners remain informed on the next steps proposed by the winners of this auction."
In 2014, US Department of Interior announced its plan to auction nearly 80,000 acres offshore Maryland for commercial wind energy development.
Image: The US Government’s Climate Action Plan aims to develop domestic clean energy resources and reduce CO2 emissions. Photo: courtesy of xedos4/ FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
