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New Jersey announces $3.7 million in offshore wind research funding

By: Chloe Emanuel 26/03/2024 NJDEP

General Vessels Windfarms

New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette and New Jersey Board of Public Utilities President Christine Guhl-Sadovy have announced the award of nearly $3.7 million in funding for scientific research projects. The projects are being undertaken to ensure ecologically responsible development of offshore wind energy, an integral part of the Murphy Administration’s climate change response and resilience strategy.

Projects newly funded through the state’s ongoing Research and Monitoring Initiative (RMI) include an aerial survey of whales, a whale satellite-tagging study, a study of seasonal water-mixing dynamics, the expansion of an existing tracking system for birds and bats, and a study focused on sea turtle behavior and health.

Commissioner LaTourette commented the following: "Development of offshore wind energy is critical to mitigating and responding to the worsening impacts of climate change. These projects continue to advance our collection of important baseline scientific information that is necessary to ensure the responsible development and operation of offshore wind facilities".

NJBPU President Guhl-Sadovy also stated: "As we continue to pursue a 100% clean energy economy by 2035, it’s imperative that we not only protect the interests of our ratepayers but safeguard the vitality of our marine ecosystems as well. The Research Monitoring Initiative is a crucial piece of our comprehensive efforts to responsibly develop New Jersey’s nation-leading offshore wind industry".

The RMI, jointly administered by the DEP and BPU, employs a rigorous scientific approach to coordinate research on potential impacts of the development, operation, and eventual decommissioning of offshore wind energy to ensure the state’s offshore wind energy goals are achieved responsibly and with as little impact on natural resources as possible.

Project highlights:

- Mid-Atlantic cold pool modeling study: Rutgers University has been awarded $97,462 to study the effects of offshore wind turbines and foundations on the Mid-Atlantic cold pool, a unique oceanographic feature important to marine ecosystems.

- Whale aerial surveys: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries has been awarded $47,383 to extend seasonal aerial whale surveys by the Northeast Fisheries Science Center into the coastal region off northern New Jersey.

- Whale satellite tagging study: Rutgers University has been awarded $929,593 to evaluate the movements and habitat use of humpback whales and fin whales in and around the New Jersey offshore wind lease areas.

- Bat and bird tracking system expansion: A collaboration of research entities led by the American Bird Conservancy has been awarded $1.3 million to expand an existing regional network that tracks the movements of radio-tagged birds and bats.

- Sea turtle study: The Coonamessett Farm Foundation has been awarded $1.03 million to evaluate baseline preconstruction migration routes of sea turtles, including loggerheads, greens, kemps ridleys, and leatherbacks.

RMI projects are selected to address the short-term highest priority research needs identified with input from subject matter experts; stakeholders, including a variety of state, federal, fishing industry, and environmental organizations; and the New Jersey Environmental Resources Offshore Wind Working Group.

Launched in 2021, RMI’s ongoing research is contributing to a regional body of work being developed by federal partners such as the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA); regional entities such as the Regional Wildlife Science Collaborative for Offshore Wind and the Responsible Offshore Science Alliance; and state partners with shared ocean interests from Maine to North Carolina.

To date, RMI projects have received $13 million in funding through the BPU’s second offshore wind energy solicitation. On Jan. 24, the BPU awarded a combined 3,742 MW of offshore wind capacity through its Third Offshore Wind Energy Solicitation, making an additional $39 million available to support RMI projects.

For more information about offshore wind farm projects across the globe, click here.

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New Jersey announces $3.7 million in offshore wind research funding

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