New Jersey Puts Down its Marker to be the Epicenter of the Job-rich Offshore Wind Industry
December 23, 2020Dennis CulnanNews
Officials from the State of New Jersey and South Jersey Port Corporation recently announced the nation's largest investment to date in industrial offshore wind energy. The state committed to a $250 million investment in EEW manufacturing facilities for Ørsted at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal to develop and support wind-energy turbine farms off the Atlantic coast.
The investment will turn the once defunct petrochemical tank farm at Paulsboro Marine Terminal, a major deep-water port along the Delaware River, into a manufacturing hub for offshore-wind energy while continuing to be a general marine terminal for a host of cargos.
The development of the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Township, together with the construction of the new manufacturing facility at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal, is a monumental step forward in solidifying New Jersey as the country's leader in offshore wind and clean energy procurement.
"Developing New Jersey's offshore wind capabilities has been a key priority of my administration since taking office in 2018," said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. "Offshore wind is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that allows us to protect our environment while significantly expanding and securing the state's economy for the immediate and long term. This is the largest industrial offshore wind investment in the United States to date and will create hundreds of high-paying jobs at a time when New Jersey's economy has been ravaged by the COVID-19 pandemic. Coupled with the creation of the New Jersey Wind Port that I announced earlier this year, this investment will continue to cement New Jersey as the leader in offshore wind in the United States."
"This is an important step forward that will support a new era of economic development and job growth in South Jersey with the ability to produce economic benefits for generations to come," added New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney who has been on a 20-year mission to turn the Paulsboro tank farm in into a regional economic engine. "Wind energy is our future – it's clean, it's safe, and it offers the opportunity for New Jersey to be a dominant leader in creating a new sector to our economy. Bringing offshore-wind manufacturers to New Jersey is key to making the state a hub of the supply chain for wind energy products and services. The new headquarters for EEW will locate a leading manufacturer of monopiles to the Paulsboro Terminal, where it will help make the port a thriving center of commerce. The collaboration between the public and private sectors to get this done is a powerful reminder of what we have to do to create economic opportunities and what we can do to promote offshore wind energy."
"This is where the dream of protecting our planet, protecting and creating family-sustaining jobs, and building a new industry becomes reality," said Andy Saporito, CEO and Executive Director of the South Jersey Port Corporation. "It becomes a reality because of the vision and commitment of the State of New Jersey, our Governor, Senate President, legislature, and congressional delegation."
"EEW is delighted to establish our latest manufacturing operations in New Jersey, as a major step forward for the offshore wind industry, and further establishing EEW as the global leader in monopile foundations," said Christoph Schorge, CEO EEW-group based out of Erndtebrück Germany. "EEW's manufacturing technology and years of experience will bring forward a factory capable of producing the world largest foundations required to support the ever-increasing wind turbines of the future"
"The Governor's announcement of this massive manufacturing facility at the Port of Paulsboro demonstrates New Jersey's commitment to clean energy and the creation of hundreds of long-term manufacturing jobs," said Lee Laurendeau, CEO of EEW-American Offshore Structures. "This state-of-the-art factory will be a catalyst for change in Paulsboro and the surrounding area, creating much-needed construction, manufacturing, and supply chain jobs for many decades. Along with the New Jersey Wind Port, the Paulsboro monopile factory will secure New Jersey's position as the manufacturing epicenter of the emerging Offshore Wind Industry. EEW would like to thank the Governor and Orsted for their commitment and support in enabling this exciting opportunity for South Jersey."
"This announcement represents a significant milestone for the Ocean Wind project and New Jersey's offshore wind goals," said David Hardy, Chief Executive Officer of Ørsted Offshore North America. "New Jersey is poised to be a leader in the American offshore wind industry with key investments in its port infrastructure, like the Port of Paulsboro and the New Jersey Wind Port. As the state looks to rebuild its economy post-COVID-19, Ørsted will be there to partner with the state to create jobs, and opportunities for local suppliers to enter into this new American industry."
The two-phase investment in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility to build steel components, known as monopiles, for offshore wind turbines that will serve the entire United States offshore wind industry. The facility, which will be located at the Paulsboro Marine Terminal in Gloucester County, is the largest industrial offshore wind investment in the United States to date and will create more than 500 high-paying jobs at full build-out. Construction on the facility will break ground in January 2021, with production beginning in 2023.
In June 2020, Governor Murphy announced plans to develop the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Township, a first-in-the-nation infrastructure investment that will provide a location for essential staging, assembly, and manufacturing activities related to offshore wind projects on the East Coast.
"This major investment shows that America's clean energy future is being built right here in South Jersey. The new wind turbine manufacturing site will power our economy by building the clean technology that will power our homes and businesses," said Congressman Donald Norcross. "The need to transition to a clean energy economy is more important than ever before, and I applaud Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, EEW, and Holt for recognizing that and taking action. Critically, this project will generate hundreds of union construction jobs and I look forward to seeing the great work of our local building trades members."
"This headquarters agreement to support offshore wind projects will lead to the creation of hundreds of high-paying, sustainable jobs which will greatly benefit the region and its residents," said Assemblyman John Burzichelli. "I applaud Governor Murphy for helping us take a major step in cementing New Jersey as the leader in offshore wind projects along the eastern seaboard. This is a prime example of public investment paying dividends for the residents of our state."
"Offshore wind presents an amazing opportunity for New Jersey to build a stronger, fairer economy while creating more clean energy and advancing important environmental justice goals. The offshore wind industry is growing rapidly, and thanks to Governor Murphy's vision, New Jersey is well-positioned to be a hub for the American industry," said NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. "As the first major offshore wind supply chain investment in the northeast, EEW's manufacturing headquarters in Paulsboro will create new opportunities for New Jersey businesses and attract more offshore wind companies to New Jersey. EEW's strong track record of apprenticeship programs will also help position New Jersey's workers for the best opportunities in offshore wind. Along with the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek, this project will pave the way for long-term, equitable economic growth throughout New Jersey."
"I have no doubt that through offshore wind we are laying the foundation for a prosperous and equitable future," said a New Jersey Board of Public Utilities representaive. "Establishing New Jersey as the East Coast hub of this exciting industry is paramount to the Governor's vision for a clean energy innovation economy that works for all residents. The Board selected Ocean Wind as New Jersey's first offshore wind project for the economic benefits and supply chain development opportunities, like Paulsboro Marine Terminal, that would bring additional value to the state. I applaud Ørsted and EEW for their commitment to these aims, and look forward to the success of offshore wind in New Jersey."
"Whether on the road or in the water, strong transportation access is at the heart of economic success," said New Jersey Department of Transportation Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti. "The New Jersey Department of Transportation takes pride in being a part of this important port project by providing funding for road infrastructure and dredging operations."
"The South Jersey Port Corporation welcomes EEW and Ørstedto Paulsboro," said Andrew Saporito, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, South Jersey Port Corporation. "This new public-private project positions our ports as the epicenter of the rapidly growing Offshore Wind Energy projects, both in New Jersey and along the East Coast. This partnership represents a pivotal next step for the development of the Paulsboro Marine Terminal. It will bring jobs to the region during the construction of the facility and new highly-skilled full-time jobs to staff it upon completion, as well as additional jobs for waterfront labor responsible for handling the associated cargo and completed monopoles."
"The Governor's announcement represents a major investment in the future of wind energy in New Jersey," said Tom Holt Jr., Principal of Paulsboro Waterfront development, the Holt real estate arm that serves as landlord of the Paulsboro Marine Terminal. "But it also creates exciting potential to support hundreds of new jobs in the wind energy logistics business – that is, the creation of new business opportunities to support wind energy in New Jersey. We applaud the Governor's leadership on wind energy, and we look forward to partnering in the development of a whole new wind logistics support industry in Paulsboro and all along the Delaware River and Atlantic Ocean."
"I'm proud to be part of this landmark event that will provide long term sustainable jobs for the southern New Jersey economy, while also helping the Governor meet his goals for his Energy Master Plan and providing another milestone project that provides green energy," said Dan Cosner, IBEW 351 and South Jersey Building Trades.