Wind power in New Jersey
Encyclopedia
Wind power
in New Jersey
is in the early stages of development. There are various projects underway to create windfarm
s along coastal areas in the state on land, on pier
s, and on the continental shelf
of the Atlantic Ocean off the southern Jersey Shore
. Legislation has been enacted to support the industry through economic incentives and to permit wind turbines on existing piers. Several proposals have been made to expand the use of wind-generated power which may lead to the nation's first offshore wind power
pilot project. In October 2010, North American Offshore Wind Conference was held in Atlantic City
, site of the US's first on-shore coastal facility. New Jersey is part of the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium.
, opened in 2005 in Atlantic City
, is the first coastal wind farm
in the United States. In October 2010, North American Offshore Wind Conference was held in the city and included tours of the facility and potential sites for further development. In February 2011, the state passed legislation permitting the construction of windmills for electricity along pre-existing piers, such as the Steel Pier
.
In June 2010, the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection released the results of the study which stated that the effects of developing offshore windfarms would be "negligible". Soon after, the New Jersey Legislature
created and the governor
signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act. The law provides for financial incentives and tax credit
s to support offshore wind projects.
-based Fisherman's Energy gained New Jersey approval for a demonstration project to build six wind turbines 2.5 miles (4 km) off the coast at Atlantic City, called Fisherman's Atlantic City Windfarm. The project may come on line late 2012.
Studies are being conducted by the subsidiary of the state's largest energy supplier Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G) off the coast of the southern part of the state opposite Atlantic City.
In 2009, the New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities awarded grants of up to $4 million to Garden State Offshore Energy, Fisherman's Energy and Bluewater Wind to undertake research of offshore meteorological conditions. The grant to Garden State Offshore Energy is being used to install an offshore meteorological buoy to measure wind speeds and weather and wave conditions off the coast.
is a planned electrical transmission backbone
to be built off the Atlantic Coast of the United States to serve off-shore wind farm
s. Google
and Good Energies, an investment firm, are the major investors in the $5 billion dollar project proposed by Trans-Elect Development Company which would deliver power ashore at two points, one in South Jersey
and one in northeastern New Jersey
as well as Delaware and southern Virginia. The proposed system has been praised by environmentalists and federal regulators, but as a first of its kind project, poses significant risks of encountering unexpected problems.
announced its intention to build five wind turbine
s at Port Jersey
on the Upper New York Bay
within three years. The windfarm is part of a larger plan to expand the container port on the manmade peninsula
to accommodate post-panamax ships. Nearby, the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority after some delays expects to begin operation of its singular wind turbine in 2012.
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
is in the early stages of development. There are various projects underway to create windfarm
WindFarm
WindFarm is wind energy software used to analyse, design, optimise and visualise wind farms. It calculates and optimises the energy yield subject to natural, planning and engineering constraints. WindFarm has the wind modelling software MS-Micro integrated. MS-Micro is based on the same...
s along coastal areas in the state on land, on pier
Pier
A pier is a raised structure, including bridge and building supports and walkways, over water, typically supported by widely spread piles or pillars...
s, and on the continental shelf
Continental shelf
The continental shelf is the extended perimeter of each continent and associated coastal plain. Much of the shelf was exposed during glacial periods, but is now submerged under relatively shallow seas and gulfs, and was similarly submerged during other interglacial periods. The continental margin,...
of the Atlantic Ocean off the southern Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
. Legislation has been enacted to support the industry through economic incentives and to permit wind turbines on existing piers. Several proposals have been made to expand the use of wind-generated power which may lead to the nation's first offshore wind power
Offshore wind power
Offshore wind power refers to the construction of wind farms in bodies of water to generate electricity from wind. Better wind speeds are available offshore compared to on land, so offshore wind power’s contribution in terms of electricity supplied is higher....
pilot project. In October 2010, North American Offshore Wind Conference was held in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, site of the US's first on-shore coastal facility. New Jersey is part of the Atlantic Offshore Wind Energy Consortium.
Jersey Atlantic Wind Farm
Jersey-Atlantic Wind FarmJersey-Atlantic Wind Farm
The Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm in Atlantic City, New Jersey, is the first coastal wind farm in the United States and the first wind farm in New Jersey. It became operational in December 2005 and consists of five 1.5 MW turbines built by General Electric. Each wind turbine reaches a height of .The...
, opened in 2005 in Atlantic City
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is a city in Atlantic County, New Jersey, United States, and a nationally renowned resort city for gambling, shopping and fine dining. The city also served as the inspiration for the American version of the board game Monopoly. Atlantic City is located on Absecon Island on the coast...
, is the first coastal wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
in the United States. In October 2010, North American Offshore Wind Conference was held in the city and included tours of the facility and potential sites for further development. In February 2011, the state passed legislation permitting the construction of windmills for electricity along pre-existing piers, such as the Steel Pier
Steel Pier
Steel Pier is a amusement pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey, located opposite The Boardwalk from Trump Taj Mahal.The pier was owned by Trump Entertainment Resorts until 2011, when it was sold to the Catanoso Family under the "Steel Pier Associates, LLC" name. The Catanosos previously leased the...
.
Offshore Wind Economic Development Act
Prior to 2008, when changes in federal rules expanded the area where offshore wind parks can be constructed, projects were only allowed in state waters within 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) of shore. U.S. territory extends to about 200 nautical miles (370.4 km) offshore. While increased distance from the shoreline diminishes their visibility it can cause problems for stability.In June 2010, the State of New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection released the results of the study which stated that the effects of developing offshore windfarms would be "negligible". Soon after, the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
created and the governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
signed the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act. The law provides for financial incentives and tax credit
Tax credit
A tax credit is a sum deducted from the total amount a taxpayer owes to the state. A tax credit may be granted for various types of taxes, such as an income tax, property tax, or VAT. It may be granted in recognition of taxes already paid, as a subsidy, or to encourage investment or other behaviors...
s to support offshore wind projects.
Fisherman's Energy
In May 2011, Cape MayCape May, New Jersey
Cape May is a city at the southern tip of Cape May Peninsula in Cape May County, New Jersey, where the Delaware Bay meets the Atlantic Ocean and is one of the country's oldest vacation resort destinations. It is part of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2010 United States...
-based Fisherman's Energy gained New Jersey approval for a demonstration project to build six wind turbines 2.5 miles (4 km) off the coast at Atlantic City, called Fisherman's Atlantic City Windfarm. The project may come on line late 2012.
Garden State Offshore Energy / Deepwater Wind
In 2008, New Jersey gave rights to develop a 350 MW wind project to Garden State Offshore Energy - a joint venture between Deepwater Wind and PSEG Renewable Generation.Studies are being conducted by the subsidiary of the state's largest energy supplier Public Service Enterprise Group (PSE&G) off the coast of the southern part of the state opposite Atlantic City.
In 2009, the New Jersey's Board of Public Utilities awarded grants of up to $4 million to Garden State Offshore Energy, Fisherman's Energy and Bluewater Wind to undertake research of offshore meteorological conditions. The grant to Garden State Offshore Energy is being used to install an offshore meteorological buoy to measure wind speeds and weather and wave conditions off the coast.
Atlantic Wind Connection
Atlantic Wind ConnectionAtlantic Wind Connection
Atlantic Wind Connection is an electrical transmission backbone proposed by Trans-Elect Development Company that could be constructed starting in 2013 off the East Coast of the United States to service off-shore wind farms...
is a planned electrical transmission backbone
Electric power transmission
Electric-power transmission is the bulk transfer of electrical energy, from generating power plants to Electrical substations located near demand centers...
to be built off the Atlantic Coast of the United States to serve off-shore wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
s. Google
Google
Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...
and Good Energies, an investment firm, are the major investors in the $5 billion dollar project proposed by Trans-Elect Development Company which would deliver power ashore at two points, one in South Jersey
South Jersey
South Jersey comprises the southern portions of the U.S. state of New Jersey between the lower Delaware River and the Atlantic Ocean. The designation is a colloquial one, reflecting not only geographical but perceived cultural differences from the northern part of the state, with no official...
and one in northeastern New Jersey
Gateway Region
The Gateway Region is located in the northeastern part of State of New Jersey in the United States of America. The area encompasses Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Passaic, Union and Middlesex counties...
as well as Delaware and southern Virginia. The proposed system has been praised by environmentalists and federal regulators, but as a first of its kind project, poses significant risks of encountering unexpected problems.
Port Jersey
In 2010 the Port Authority of New York and New JerseyPort Authority of New York and New Jersey
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is a bi-state port district, established in 1921 through an interstate compact, that runs most of the regional transportation infrastructure, including the bridges, tunnels, airports, and seaports, within the Port of New York and New Jersey...
announced its intention to build five wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
s at Port Jersey
Port Jersey
Port Jersey is an intermodal freight transport facility that includes a container terminal located on the Upper New York Bay in the Port of New York and New Jersey. The municipal border of the Hudson County, New Jersey cities of Jersey City and Bayonne runs along the long pier extending into the bay...
on the Upper New York Bay
Upper New York Bay
Upper New York Bay, or Upper Bay, is the traditional heart of the Port of New York and New Jersey, and often called New York Harbor. It is enclosed by the New York City boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Staten Island and the Hudson County, New Jersey municipalities of Jersey City and Bayonne.It...
within three years. The windfarm is part of a larger plan to expand the container port on the manmade peninsula
Peninsula
A peninsula is a piece of land that is bordered by water on three sides but connected to mainland. In many Germanic and Celtic languages and also in Baltic, Slavic and Hungarian, peninsulas are called "half-islands"....
to accommodate post-panamax ships. Nearby, the Bayonne Municipal Utilities Authority after some delays expects to begin operation of its singular wind turbine in 2012.
See also
- Renewable energyRenewable energyRenewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable . About 16% of global final energy consumption comes from renewables, with 10% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3.4% from...
- Environmental impact of wind power
- Solar power in New JerseySolar power in New JerseySolar power in New Jersey has been aided by a Renewable Portfolio Standard which requires that 22.5% of New Jersey's electricity come from renewable resources by 2021, and by one of the two most favorable net metering standards in the country, along with Colorado, both of with allow unlimited...
- Nuclear power plants in New JerseyNuclear power plants in New Jersey*Atlantic Nuclear Power Plant in Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey *Forked River Nuclear Power Plant *Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Station in Lower Alloways Creek Township, New Jersey...
- List of power stations in New Jersey