The New Jersey Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee approved an amendment to the Offshore Wind Economic Development Act yesterday, which requires the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to open a “window” to solicit new proposals for a small demonstration wind project off of Atlantic City.
Fishermen’s Energy, the company behind the Atlantic City Wind Farm Demonstration Project off the coast of New Jersey, expects that the full assembly and senate will pass the bill by year end.
This would allow the company to build its $200 million pilot project, comprising six Siemens 4MW turbines.
In light of yesterday’s auction for offshore wind development rights in the New Jersey Wind Energy Area, Paul Gallagher, COO of Fishermen’s Energy said that commercial scale projects would benefit from a small demonstration offshore wind farm. “To many of us in the industry, it is clear that these commercial scale projects are several years away from completion. That leaves ample time to learn from a small project and save a lot on the commercial scale projects,” Gallagher explained.
Recently, Fishermen’s Energy modified its project proposal , after the New Jersey BPU had rejected the proposed demonstration project off Atlantic City, saying it is too expensive.
Chris Wissemann, CEO of Fishermen’s Energy , said: “We look forward to working constructively with the BPU to successfully launch offshore wind in New Jersey. The Atlantic City project has been reconfigured to utilize proven Siemens Turbines and traditional project financing specifically to address the issues raised by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.”
Image: Fishermen’s Energy