New Jersey sets Atlantic coast’s largest goal for offshore wind

In the latest move by a state to go big on offshore wind, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed an executive order to increase the Garden State’s offshore wind goal to 11 gigawatts by 2040, an increase of nearly 50% from its previous goal of 7.5 GW. Only California, which adopted a goal of 25 gigawatts by 2045 has a larger offshore wind commitment.

Murphy’s goal will generate enough offshore wind power to supply roughly 10 million homes for one year, and puts New Jersey on track to be the highest offshore wind power generating state in the East Coast.

According to Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center’s report, Offshore Wind for America, New Jersey has tremendous offshore wind potential. The 280.2 TWh of offshore wind potential are equivalent to 379 percent the Garden State’s electricity usage in 2019.

“Offshore wind is the best way to reach New Jersey’s clean renewable energy mandates,” said Doug O’Malley, director of Environment New Jersey Research & Policy Center. “Gov. Murphy’s executive order cements the reality that offshore wind will continue to expand over the next decade.”