New Jersey’s Governor called for a tripling of the state’s commitment to develop offshore wind energy. “We will be changing the objective from 1,000 mega watts to 3,000 mega watts by 2020,” says Governor Jon Corzine. That would mean about 13 percent of New Jersey’s electricity needs would come from the ocean’s breeze.
Experts say all this make sense given the fluctuating cost of foreign oil and concerns over green houses created by burning fossil fuels. “We think this is a very important commitment when moving into alternative energies,” says Corzine.
Last week the State Board of Public Utilities granted $4million out of an earmarked $19 million dollars for developing wind energy to a joint venture of PSEG and Deepwater Wind called Garden State Offshore Energy. At least $15 million could still be up for grabs.
“We have the ability to build a second industry side by side ours,” says Daniel Cohen president of Fishermen’s Energy, a group made up by those who harvest the sea. He hopes today’s announcement means his company will get another serious chance to start building a wind farm. “We have the docks; we have the men, the employees who want to be re-trained. And we can deliver to the state a significant portion of that offshore energy,” says Cohen.
Cohen says Fishermen’s project could be built more quickly than others and nearly all the jobs it creates would be in South Jersey. Something he has discussed with the Governor. Several other groups join Fishermen’s desire to help kick start a massive wind energy industry, but the most concrete plans as of now are for 96 turbines from GSOE about 15 to 20 miles off the local coast.
Source: http://www.windenergynews.com/content/view/1426/43/ Date: 08-10-08
Experts say all this make sense given the fluctuating cost of foreign oil and concerns over green houses created by burning fossil fuels. “We think this is a very important commitment when moving into alternative energies,” says Corzine.
Last week the State Board of Public Utilities granted $4million out of an earmarked $19 million dollars for developing wind energy to a joint venture of PSEG and Deepwater Wind called Garden State Offshore Energy. At least $15 million could still be up for grabs.
“We have the ability to build a second industry side by side ours,” says Daniel Cohen president of Fishermen’s Energy, a group made up by those who harvest the sea. He hopes today’s announcement means his company will get another serious chance to start building a wind farm. “We have the docks; we have the men, the employees who want to be re-trained. And we can deliver to the state a significant portion of that offshore energy,” says Cohen.
Cohen says Fishermen’s project could be built more quickly than others and nearly all the jobs it creates would be in South Jersey. Something he has discussed with the Governor. Several other groups join Fishermen’s desire to help kick start a massive wind energy industry, but the most concrete plans as of now are for 96 turbines from GSOE about 15 to 20 miles off the local coast.
Source: http://www.windenergynews.com/content/view/1426/43/ Date: 08-10-08
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