BPU To Host Public Hearing On Offshore Wind Plan In Mercer County

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will host a public hearing on its Offshore Wind Strategic Plan on Thursday in Mercer County. It will take place at 10 a.m. at Mercer County Community College, Conference Center at Mercer Auditorium, 1200 Old Trenton Road in West Windsor. The board will collect public input on the state's plan to implement 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind capacity.

In addition to the public hearing, the board is accepting written comments to be submitted to Aida Camacho, Secretary, New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, 44 South Clinton Avenue, 3rd Floor, Suite 314, CN 350, Trenton, New Jersey 08625, on or before July 26, 2018.

Written comments may also be submitted electronically to Rule.Comments@bpu.nj.gov in PDF or Word Format. All comments must be received on or before 5:00 p.m. July 26, 2018. The following topics are included for comment at the Public Hearing and by written submissions:

1. How should BPU stagger/phase in New Jersey’s offshore wind procurements to realize the State’s goal of 3,500 megawatts. Should this schedule be announced before any solicitations are released?

2. How should the BPU structure the initial solicitation for 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind capacity as called for under EO8?

3. Should the BPU request proposals scaled at 1,100 megawatts, or should the BPU request proposals in smaller blocks of capacity (i.e. 400 megawatts)?

4. How may a solicitation be structured to ensure strong competition from multiple OSW developers?

5. What conditions should be included to ensure maximum competition in terms of OREC Price?

6. OWEDA requires the OREC Price to be an all-in price that includes the full cost of the construction, operation and decommissioning of the project with all revenues being refunded to ratepayers. What measures can be included in project proposals to optimize all revenues over the life of the project?

7. OWEDA requires that offshore wind developers demonstrate a net economic benefit for the State. How should the BPU ensure net economic benefits in order to be able to compare applications?

8. What other elements should BPU consider including in the 1,100 megawatt offshore wind solicitation called for under EO8 (e.g. storage, other adjunct technologies)?

9. Should the BPU request bids for expandable, nondiscriminatory, open-access offshore transmission facilities for the efficient delivery of power to the onshore transmission system?

Patch file photo