New Jersey plans offshore wind transmission tender in 2021

New Jersey plans to hold a competitive solicitation for offshore wind transmission capacity in 2021, in line with its 7.5 GW offshore wind ambition.

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) said on Wednesday that the tender aims to alight the state’s offshore wind transmission goals with its regional grid operator’s planning. Thus, the agency has requested that the state’s offshore wind transmission policy is included into the planning process of PJM Interconnection LLC, enabling the grid operator to solicit proposals for transmission projects on behalf of NJBPU.

For the planned tender in 2021, NJBPU said it will collaborate with PJM to assess the proposals and any cost considerations. The solicitation will be open to ready-to-build transmission projects and will examine their cost, siting, environmental impacts, and the timeframe for construction.

NHBPU noted it will decide whether to proceed with any of the proposed projects at the end of the competition, keeping the right to cancel the process at any time without making a selection.

In September, NJBPU opened a second offshore wind solicitation for the state, looking to award up to 2.4 GW of capacity off the East Coast. It was organised to support the state in its goal of having 7.5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2035.

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