The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities announced nearly $2 million in additional funding for offshore wind energy development. The funding aims to ensure safe and ecologically responsible progress in combating climate change.
Projects under the state’s Offshore Wind Research & Monitoring Initiative (RMI) include deploying a whale detection buoy, studying species diversity in offshore wind areas, and understanding harbor seal movements. Additionally, funding will support New Jersey's entry into the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance (ROSA), which advances fish and fisheries research related to offshore wind.
"Development of offshore wind energy is a vital component of the Murphy Administration’s work to mitigate and respond to the worsening impacts of climate change," said Commissioner of Environmental Protection Shawn M. LaTourette. "These projects will continue to advance the collection of baseline scientific information that will help ensure the responsible development and operation of offshore wind facilities that protect our coastline and its natural resources."
NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso stated, "We are deeply committed to doing all we can to ensure our offshore wind projects are implemented in as ecologically responsible a way as possible. We are excited about the new RMI grants and their ability to assist us in protecting the environment as we move forward to reach Governor Murphy’s goal of 11 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040."
The RMI is a joint effort by DEP and BPU, coordinating research on potential impacts from offshore wind energy development with federal partners such as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind, LLC, and Ocean Wind II, LLC have committed $10,000 per megawatt of project-nameplate capacity awarded—totaling approximately $26 million—to fund regional research and ecological monitoring through BPU’s second wind energy solicitation. To date, RMI has provided $8.5 million for offshore wind-related projects.
The newly announced awards include:
- Deployment and maintenance of a whale detection buoy off Atlantic City: This buoy will listen for whales with detections reviewed for NOAA’s Slow Zones for Right Whales program to mitigate risks from vessel strikes and construction noise. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute received $602,135 for this project facilitated by the New Jersey Sea Grant Consortium.
- An Environmental DNA (eDNA) study: Monmouth University was awarded $1.2 million for this study using eDNA technology to monitor species important for maintaining coastal waters' ecological integrity.
- A study on harbor seals' movement patterns: Stockton University and Atlantic Marine Conservation Society were granted $682,890 to tag harbor seals and collect health data aiding future assessments related to OSW activities.
- Membership in ROSA: Supporting ROSA aligns with New Jersey's Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative membership efforts towards long-term monitoring needs. A two-year membership costs $100,000.
Additionally, RMI issued an updated Request for Proposal (RFP) for archival passive acoustic monitoring equipment aimed at understanding baleen whale species distribution along New Jersey's coastline.
RMI selects projects based on short-term priority research needs identified through input from subject matter experts, stakeholders including various state agencies, federal entities, fishing industry representatives, environmental organizations, and the New Jersey Environmental Resources Offshore Wind Working Group.
New Jersey’s commitment to regional cooperation is reflected through these funded projects providing crucial baseline data needed for future assessments regarding changes resulting from wind farm construction.
