S2036

TRENTON – Senate President Steve Sweeney today welcomed news that state officials have approved permits for a wind turbine project nearly three miles off the Atlantic City coast, green-lighting what may become the nation’s first off-shore wind farm.

According to published reports today, Fishermen’s Energy has received the go-ahead from state regulators to move forward with its plan for constructing a six-turbine, 25-megawatt wind-energy system 2.8 miles from Atlantic City’s boardwalk, capable of powering 10,000 homes.

TRENTON – Bipartisan legislation Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Republican Leader Thomas H. Kean, Jr., sponsored to promote the development of offshore wind technology and create a new manufacturing sector in the state was today signed by Governor Chris Christie.

The lawmakers said the establishment of in-state manufacturing businesses to build turbines, rotors and other parts needed to harness offshore wind would bring new jobs to the state. Currently, no United States-based facility exists that produces the parts needed for offshore wind projects.

TRENTON – Bipartisan legislation Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney and Senate Republican Leader Thomas H. Kean, Jr., sponsored to promote the development of offshore wind technology was released today by the Senate Environment and Energy Committee.

The “Offshore Wind Economic Development Act,” (S-2036) would create through the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) an offshore wind renewable energy certificate (OREC) program to require that a percentage of electricity sold in the State be from offshore wind energy – similar to the credits already provided for solar energy. The credits would help push the state to creating 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind energy.