Feds to Auction 344,000 Acres Offshore New Jersey for Wind Energy Development

Thirteen energy companies qualified to bid in lease sale

 U.S. Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) Director Abigail Ross Hopper announced that 343,833 acres offshore New Jersey will be offered for commercial wind energy development in a competitive lease sale on November 9, 2015.

BOEM has awarded nine commercial offshore wind leases, including seven through the competitive lease sale process (two in an area offshore Rhode Island-Massachusetts, another two offshore Massachusetts, two offshore Maryland and one offshore Virginia). These lease sales have generated about $14.5 million in winning bids for more than 700,000 acres in federal waters.

BOEM has determined that the following energy development companies are legally, technically and financially qualified to participate in the upcoming New Jersey lease sale:

●      Convalt Energy LLC
●      GSOE I LLC
●      EDF Renewable Energy Development Inc.
●      Energy Management Inc.
●      Fishermen’s Energy LLC
●      Green Sail Energy LLC
●      IBERDROLA RENEWABLES Inc.
●      New Jersey Offshore Wind LLC
●      OffshoreMW LLC
●      RES America Developments Inc.
●      Sea Breeze Energy LLC
●      US Mainstream Renewable Power (Offshore) Inc.
●      U.S. Wind Inc.

The New Jersey Wind Energy Area starts about seven nautical miles from shore. A map of the Wind Energy Area can be viewed at http://www.boem.gov/New-Jersey/.  Additional information on the New Jersey Wind Energy Area and upcoming auction can be found at http://www.boem.gov/State-Activities-New-Jersey/.

In the meantime BOEM has invited all recreational and commercial fisherman to a workshop on November 4, 2015 in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ for BOEM to understand how the lease area is used for fishing. You can see the invitation here: http://www.njfishandwildlife.com/images/marine/boemnj11-15.jpg