Murphy Announces New Jersey Offshore Wind Supply Chain Registry

NEW YORK, N.Y. – Speaking to a packed house of wind industry leaders at the IPF Supply Chain Conference, Gov. Phil Murphy April 9 announced the creation of a New Jersey Offshore Wind Supply Chain Registry.
According to a release, the registry, which will be developed as part of the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (NJEDA) membership in the Business Network for Offshore Wind, will create a free online portal where investors exploring offshore wind-related projects in New Jersey will be able to find Jersey-based companies to partner with or purchase from.
“Developing a robust offshore wind industry is a key step to building a stronger, fairer New Jersey economy that provides good jobs and protects our environment for future generations,” stated Murphy. “The offshore wind supply chain registry will facilitate the delivery of our offshore wind projects and ensure New Jersey companies are first in line for opportunities they create.”
The NJEDA, through its Office of Economic Transformation (OET), has been working closely with the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) and other agencies on the Offshore Wind Task Force to expand New Jersey’s offshore wind industry.
A consistent challenge throughout this process has been the lack of a comprehensive list of New Jersey-based companies that established offshore wind companies can partner with or purchase from as they plan projects in the state.
The Offshore Wind Supply Chain Registry will address this problem by helping to attract more offshore wind companies to New Jersey and create new opportunities for Jersey-based companies by integrating them into the offshore wind supply chain.
“Offshore wind is on the verge of becoming one of the biggest industries in the world, and New Jersey will be at the forefront of that trend,” stated NJBPU President Joseph L. Fiordaliso. “This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for New Jersey businesses and workers, and our leaders throughout the state are working together to make sure we take full advantage of the benefits this industry can bring to the Garden State.”
To expedite the development of the registry and ensure it is ready to support New Jersey’s current 1,100 MW solicitation, the NJEDA is working with the Business Network for Offshore Wind, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the development of a US offshore wind industry and its corresponding supply chain, to provide free access to the New Jersey portion of the Network’s industry-reviewed supply chain registry.
“We are excited to work with the NJEDA to open New Jersey up to more offshore wind opportunities,” stated Liz Burdock, cihef executive officer and president of the Business Network for Offshore Wind. “Offshore wind is a rapidly-growing industry that will be a major economic driver for years to come. New Jersey’s proactive approach to establishing this portal will set an example for the rest of the country of how to build a robust wind economy that benefits local businesses and workers.”
The Network normally does not open its registry up to the public, but the partnership with the NJEDA will make the New Jersey-company portion of the registry publicly available for free through the NJEDA website.
This will create a unique resource for offshore wind companies thinking of launching a supply chain project in New Jersey and will provide New Jersey-based companies with access to new partners in other states and in Europe.
“From our coastline to our robust infrastructure to our unparalleled workforce, New Jersey has all the ingredients to be a regional leader in offshore wind,” stated NJEDA Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan. “Now it is important that we give New Jersey businesses the tools and exposure they need to take full advantage of this opportunity. The Offshore Wind Supply Chain Registry will make sure New Jersey-based businesses and the New Jersey communities they support benefit from the growth of this industry now and for years to come.”
“The lack of a comprehensive, searchable list of New Jersey-based offshore wind partners has been a consistent hurdle to unlocking offshore wind’s full potential to create new jobs and grow our economy,” stated Brian Sabina,NJEDA Senior Vice President – OET. “The offshore wind supply chain registry will be a powerful tool for attracting major offshore wind projects to New Jersey and connecting New Jersey-based companies with new opportunities.
Sabina said that the NJEDA has set a goal of including more than 650 New Jersey-based companies in the registry by mid-August, in time for the next annual Time for Turbines event in Atlantic City.
He added that the registry will be accepting sign-ups and giving demonstrations of the system at the Network’s booth throughout the IPF conference and that the NJEDA will be launching a marketing campaign encouraging New Jersey businesses to participate in the registry over the coming months.
To access an early version of the portal see https://bit.ly/2G3lmHT