New Jersey Wind Council Releases Report on Recommendations for Creation of WIND Institute

In the spirit of Earth Day, on April 22, 2020, Governor Murphy’s Wind Council released a report detailing recommendations for the creation of the WIND Institute to serve as the flagship entity in the development of offshore wind in New Jersey and the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region (the “Report”).

Governor Murphy’s Wind Council was established in August 2019 by way of Executive Order No. 79, providing for the development of the Wind Innovation and New Development (“WIND”) Institute. The Wind Council envisions the WIND Institute as the lead entity in creating a regional hub for the burgeoning offshore wind industry by fostering state- and industry-wide collaboration.

As a result of extensive research conducted by the Wind Council to assess the state of the offshore wind industry in New Jersey, the Wind Council created the Report, which details recommendations for the creation of the WIND Institute, including the following:

• “The WIND Institute be established as an independent authority with a corollary non-profit;
• The WIND Institute have an advisory board that enables all stakeholder groups, including industry, organized labor, academia, and other interested parties to guide its activities;
• The WIND Institute coordinate and galvanize cross-organizational efforts by acting as a centralized hub for offshore wind workforce development;
• The WIND Institute champion research, innovation and though leadership that unlocks market potential;
• The WIND Institute leverage a combination of state funding, federal funding, and, where appropriate and feasible, philanthropic funding to ensure sustained and adequate support; and
• The WIND Institute have a dedicated physical presence to support in-person collaboration and act as a hub of activity for the region’s industry.”

“The Wind Council report lays out a clear roadmap for establishing New Jersey as the epicenter of the region’s offshore wind industry. This would be a welcome economic boost at any time, but it will be even more valuable as we recover from COVID-19,” said New Jersey Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer Tim Sullivan in a press release on April 22, 2020.

Upon Governor Murphy’s acceptance of the Wind Council’s recommendations, the Administration will then seek legislation establishing the WIND Institute as envisioned by the Report.

Davis Environmental Law will follow developments.