The Department of the Interior's Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) states that 343,833 acres off the coast of New Jersey will be offered for commercial wind energy development in a competitive lease sale on Nov. 9.
If fully developed, the New Jersey Wind Energy Area (WEA) could support at least 3.4 GW of commercial wind generation – enough to power an estimated 1.2 million homes, according to the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
‘We are pleased to see sustained commercial interest in offshore wind development,’ says Abigail Ross Hopper, BOEM's director. "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.’
Under the terms of the final sale notice, which will be published in the Federal Register on Sept. 25, the New Jersey WEA will be auctioned as two leases: a south lease (consisting of 160,480 acres) and a north lease (consisting of 183,353 acres).
BOEM has determined that the following energy development companies are legally, technically and financially qualified to participate in the upcoming New Jersey lease sale:
- 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;
- U.S. Mainstream Renewable Power (Offshore); and
- U.S. Wind.
The New Jersey WEA starts about seven nautical miles from shore. A map of the WEA can be viewed here.
BOEM says it will consider monetary and non-monetary factors (e.g., whether a bidder has obtained a power purchase agreement or a New Jersey Offshore Renewable Energy Certificate award) in determining the winners.
The notice further describes these requirements, and other relevant sale items, such as deadlines and milestones for bidders, the area available for leasing, lease provisions and conditions, auction details, criteria for evaluating bids, award procedures, and lease execution.
