New Jersey paving path for offshore wind

Garden State has a goal of generating 20% of its power from wind by 2020.

New Jersey has taken a major step forward in the development of offshore wind projects.

Legislation approved by lawmakers will require a percentage of electricity sold in New Jersey to be from offshore wind energy and establishes standards for approving the projects.
Assembly sponsor Upendra Chivukula says the measure also creates tradable credits for power generated by those projects, He says that will help develop a long term market for offshore wind.

“It also will attract the manufacturing to New Jersey where you can build the ships that need to carry these huge windmills as well as trying to see how we can create manufacturing jobs. Over a year 20 year period you’re going to be creating thousands of jobs.”

It’s now up to Governor Christie to decide whether to sign the legislation. The state’s energy master plan calls for 20% of New Jersey’s energy needs to be met by wind power by 2020.