The seven-year solicitation process state officials embarked on in hopes of housing 11,000 megawatts of offshore energy meant New Jerseyans were going to get familiar with offshore developers they’d never heard of.
That crash course in first impressions went this way: Ørsted, the winner of the first pair of solicitations, suddenly ceased development on its highly touted projects a year ago.
There have been more offshore wind developers throwing their hat in the ring since. And they’re hoping to make a better introduction for themselves in the Garden State.
Paulina Banasiak O’Connor, head of an organization that’s now serving as the voice for the sector, New Jersey Offshore Wind Alliance, calls the past 12 months a “reset year.” During that time, two of the state’s largest plans for offshore wind projects so far were named winners of the state’s third solicitation round, and applications were filed for the state’s fourth solicitation.
“New Jersey has been doing a good job in terms of solicitation and procurement of offshore wind power,” Banasiak O’Connor said. “The fourth solicitation will be awarded in December. And, in that one, the (New Jersey Board of Public Utilities) really listened to the industry and its needs. They looked at the shift in the market and put in some great mechanisms for flexibility and inflation adjustments to help developers make the financial case for projects. We hope to see another solicitation next year.”
Even in this past year’s reset, there have been some additional mishaps. Neighboring New York this year had to pull the plug on a trio of wind farm projects, with state officials noting energy equipment manufacturer GE Vernova’s decision to scrap certain turbine plans.
At the same time, one of the two companies awarded projects in New Jersey’s third solicitation, Leading Light Wind, was granted a pause by the BPU through the end of the year while seeking components it needs to continue with the project.
Attentive Energy was the other company given the go-ahead in that solicitation. The company’s managing director, Damian Bednarz, was raised in New Jersey and studied at Seton Hall before going on to aid in former President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and then filling a role at the Department of Energy during his time in office.
He’d love for his company to build up more positive recognition across his home state. However, he believes the reputation has moved in the right direction with the state’s primary stakeholders in offshore wind.
“Of course, we’re not selling energy directly to consumers,” he said. “But for the stakeholders, chambers of commerce, economic development agencies and unions, they know we’re bringing a trusted, reliable and seasoned team to what we do. And they know we’re in this for the long haul.”
As for the players in offshore wind that came before them (namely, Ørsted), Bednarz said he couldn’t speak to their decisions and actions.
“But one thing that’s clear is that stakeholders in the state really want to know the realities (of these projects) and to have transparency,” he said. “I think we’ve been successful from the beginning in that, in terms of informing all the stakeholders of where we are, what the timing looks like and what we need. I think that level of dialogue was missing. We’ve been trying to fill that gap for a while now.”
Bednarz emphasized that last part — that Attentive Energy isn’t a brand-new entrant into New Jersey’s offshore wind market. He said the formation of their team, although they’ve changed names, dates back to Gov. Phil Murphy’s trade mission to Europe in 2018, when state officials convinced a German utility, EnBW, to set up shop in the Garden State.
Attentive Energy started as a joint venture between EnBW and energy company TotalEnergies, which later bought out EnBW and is now partnered with global offshore wind firm Corio Generation. The joint venture has been steadily advancing commitments to the state’s framework for offshore wind. Bednarz said they’ve “hit every milestone set up” for them in New Jersey.
In their bids, the company vowed to contribute at least $30 million to local environmental and fisheries initiatives.
“People are always asking, ‘Well, what are you actually doing for the state?’ Here’s a clear example,” Bednarz said. “As of right now we have committed 7.5 million to the state and that’s going to the (New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection) to fund their research and monitoring initiative.”
Bednarz added that they’ve also been working to support workers from diverse backgrounds entering the sector, and, in particular, the supply chain for offshore wind, through local apprenticeship programs.
“It’s our job as developers to create different pathways and bring in a more inclusive offshore wind industry,” he said. “And we want to act today to create these pathways by removing hurdles and building out opportunities across the state. It’s critical to do that now, not years from now.”
Bednarz said their organization aims to make a name for themselves as good stewards of the communities they’ve working in.
“And we’re taking the right steps,” he said.
Conversation Starters
Reach New Jersey Offshore Wind Alliance at: njowa.org.
Reach Attentive Energy at: attentiveenergy.com.
