Letter to Governor Murphy in Support of Offshore Wind

Dear Governor Murphy,

On behalf of the undersigned organizations and our members and supporters across New Jersey, we respectfully submit this letter regarding the need for clear, continued state commitment to responsible offshore wind development—essential to a cleaner, healthier, and more equitable future for New Jerseyans, and to securing your administration’s legacy as a national leader in clean energy. 

Recent federal actions have brought new offshore wind development in New Jersey to a standstill. These actions include a pause on new offshore wind lease sales, a freeze on approvals, permits, and loans, and a review of existing leases. The revocation of the Clean Air permit from the Atlantic Shores project has further deepened uncertainty around the long-term prospects for offshore wind in New Jersey. Most alarmingly, the recent Executive Order titled “Protecting American Energy from State Overreach” threatens to strip states of their authority to lead on clean energy and climate action, signaling an aggressive effort to derail state-driven offshore wind initiatives. These actions collectively pose a serious threat not only to New Jersey’s clean energy economy but also to the health, climate, and economic progress of our communities. In the face of these headwinds, it is more critical than ever for the state to double down on its commitment to offshore wind as a pillar of climate action and energy independence, including fighting back at critical times. 

We applaud you and Attorney General Platkin for joining 17 other states in advancing a lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s efforts to halt the development of offshore wind. This is a critical action to safeguard the offshore wind industry in New Jersey and demonstrates to constituents and advocates that you are committed to a clean energy future, and we hope it signals the beginning of further action.

With fewer near-term federal opportunities, it is critical that the state take concrete steps to show that it still supports the long-term development of offshore wind, a necessary source of power if New Jersey is to achieve its climate and energy goals, as detailed in the state’s current draft Energy Master Plan.    

Recognizing that federal partnership is currently off the table, we urge your administration to do all that is within the state’s power to maintain progress so New Jersey is ready to hit the ground running when federal support is restored. In particular, we encourage the state to focus on five areas where it has already made great strides:  

1. Select a Prebuild Infrastructure Developer

We commend your administration for pursuing a coordinated transmission strategy via the state Agreement Approach (SAA) between PJM and the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) that resulted in the Larrabee Tri-Collector project. The novel SAA set a precedent for future agreements and collaboration between a grid operator and a state that will have impacts beyond New Jersey.  However, the continued delay in selecting a developer for the project’s Prebuild Infrastructure (PBI) is concerning. Selecting a developer would reaffirm the state’s commitment to this innovative approach, provide a clear pathway for future projects, and reduce construction impacts on communities. We strongly urge the BPU to select a developer and move the state one step closer to plugging in future projects.

2. Put the Wind Port to Work, but Prioritize Offshore Wind Uses

Your administration has demonstrated significant support for offshore wind port development, recognizing that there is no domestic offshore wind industry without supportive infrastructure. The development of the NJ Wind Port and the Paulsboro Terminal visibly demonstrated the state’s commitment to offshore wind at large. However, recent reports of NJEDA staff being reassigned to different scopes of work, along with consideration of alternative uses at the Wind Port, raise concerns.   

Given the significant investment in the Wind Port to date, NJEDA must release a clear roadmap for its future that includes a revised construction timeline for future phases, an evaluation of other near-term alternative uses, and strategies for serving as a hub for other offshore wind projects in the region. Leaving the Wind Port without sufficient staff, a timeline for its completion, or clarity about its use is a disservice not only to New Jersey taxpayers, but also to offshore wind stakeholders across the region. 

If the port cannot be used to support active offshore wind projects in the near term, NJEDA should consider interim roles the port could play, such as storage or fabrication of cables and other component parts, or serving as a staging area for imported parts while the wind industry finds its footing. Keeping the Wind Port active will bring jobs and economic prosperity to New Jersey, even if our own projects are temporarily on hold, and particularly given the slowdowns being experienced by other ports in the region, i.e., the Port of Salem, MA. If, to maintain viability, the Port needs to lease space to other industries, those uses should be considered temporary, maintaining the primary focus of returning to offshore wind development for the long-term future of the site.

3. Support Existing Projects and Lay the Groundwork for Future Projects

While we were disappointed by the decision not to move forward with Atlantic Shores’s submission under the 4th solicitation—and the subsequent EPA permit revocation—we urge your administration to continue to support Atlantic Shores’s efforts, including any appeals. We also urge the state to take an active interest in potential legal challenges to protect New Jersey offshore wind projects that threaten to undermine the state’s ability to achieve its legislated clean energy goals and the goals under Governor Murphy’s executive actions. Such action would defend New Jersey’s clean energy mandate, protect its permitting authority, and uphold the state’s economic and climate interests.

We also encourage your ongoing support for Attentive Energy Two and Leading Light Wind as they navigate supply chain challenges and regulatory hurdles, including granting project timeline extensions as needed. 

Additionally, NJ BPU should revise its solicitation schedule and offshore wind targets to reflect current conditions while charting a viable course forward. New Jersey needs dedicated employees to continue to refine the solicitation process, work with manufacturers and suppliers, and recruit port tenants. Moving state employees from offshore wind to other areas would work contrary to the goal of laying the groundwork for future projects.

4. Train the Future Workforce for Offshore Wind Jobs

While an offshore wind workforce may not be needed immediately due to the status of projects in New Jersey, a workforce will still need to be trained and ready to work on wind projects. The NJEDA must develop a roadmap, in line with the three points above, laying out how the Wind Institute will resume training operations and outreach programs once projects are moving forward again, as well as prepare for how they will train future wind industry employees in relation to expected project timelines. The Wind Institute can play a key role in project development once the industry recalibrates, but only if it has clear direction on when it will resume training and outreach programs. 

5. Reaffirm Commitment to Strong Environmental Standards and Science-Based Protections

New Jersey must continue to lead with a steadfast commitment to responsible offshore wind development—development that protects marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and the state’s natural resources. In the face of increasing political attacks and misinformation, your administration’s continued emphasis on science-based environmental protections will be critical to sustaining public trust and industry momentum.

We urge you to uphold and strengthen New Jersey’s environmental leadership by maintaining high standards for offshore wind and transmission development, particularly through future solicitations. Requiring clear, enforceable environmental performance criteria and mitigation measures in both offshore wind and transmission solicitations will ensure that projects move forward responsibly and reflect the state’s long-standing environmental values.

Continued investment in initiatives like the Research and Monitoring Initiative (RMI), as well as transparent and science-driven planning, will help ensure that offshore wind advances in a way that safeguards New Jersey’s coasts, wildlife, and communities far beyond your administration.

To ensure progress is made on offshore wind transmission beyond 2025, we urge you to appoint a fifth Commissioner to the BPU before the end of your term. Without a full slate of commissioners, progress cannot be made on key infrastructure such as the PBI. We also recommend you reconvene the Offshore Wind Working Group within the Governor’s Office, bringing together industry and advocate voices to move projects and infrastructure.

We recognize that this is a challenging and uncertain moment. But abandoning offshore wind now would jeopardize not only the state’s clean energy future but also the thousands of jobs, supply chain investments, and economic benefits that come with it.

As a coalition of environmental, labor, business, and trade organizations, faith leaders, and voters, we are asking for clarity and commitment. For the last eight years, New Jersey has been a champion of offshore wind. If, in response to the Trump administration’s opposition, the state intends to pause that work, it must also acknowledge that our shared goals of clean, renewable energy still remain by providing a roadmap with mile markers showing how and when New Jersey will get back on course.

Thank you for all you have done for offshore wind. We welcome the opportunity to meet with the administration and work together to ensure New Jersey remains a national leader in offshore wind.

Sincerely,