NJ’s Offshore Wind Odyssey Gets a $10.6M Boost

NJ’s Offshore Wind Odyssey Gets a $10.6M Boost

As mentioned before, while Orsted may have pulled away from a wind farm off the coast of New Jersey, there is still one more company who is pushing to make it happen.

In a groundbreaking move for New Jersey’s renewable energy landscape, Attentive Energy, a key player in the offshore wind sector, has announced a significant investment of $10.6 million.

The funds are strategically allocated to bolster the industry’s supply chain and provide crucial support to ocean-based technology startups within the state.

Attentive Energy, one of the four projects proposed in New Jersey’s recent round of offshore wind project solicitations, is the result of a collaboration between Total Energies, based in Houston, and Corio Generation, boasting offices in Boston and London.

During a pivotal event held at Brookdale Community College, Damian Bednarz, the president of Attentive Energy, revealed the company’s visionary investment plan.

A substantial portion, $6.6 million, is earmarked for SeaAhead, a company dedicated to nurturing ocean-related technology firms. SeaAhead is set to establish a business incubator program in the heart of New Jersey, fostering innovation and growth within the sector.

Additionally, Attentive Energy is directing another $4 million towards providing technical support to small businesses through 11 regional small business development centers across the state.

This strategic move aligns with the company’s overarching goal to localize and diversify the supply chain, addressing a critical need within the offshore wind industry.

The backdrop of this investment is marked by recent challenges faced by the offshore wind supply chain, notably with Danish developer Orsted’s decision to abandon two offshore wind projects in New Jersey.

Damian Bednarz highlighted the resilience of the region, stating, “In New York and New Jersey, you’ll always find someone who says, ‘This is great: I have a service for this, I have a business for this.'”

SeaAhead’s Blue Angels group, based in Boston, adds another layer to the narrative. Over the last three years, they have successfully funded 29 startup businesses, as noted by Alissa Peterson, co-founder, and CEO.

Peterson emphasized the need to create an environment that attracts top talent to address global challenges, stressing the importance of ensuring resources are available for their success.

Attentive Energy is putting forth plans for a wind farm 42 miles off Seaside Heights. This project, if approved, has the potential to power a staggering 600,000 homes and would rank among the farthest from shore on the U.S. East Coast.

The strategic distance aims to address concerns raised by opponents of offshore wind, particularly those who wish to avoid seeing wind turbines from the beach.

In the absence of Orsted, New Jersey’s only approved offshore wind project is Atlantic Shores, a joint venture between Shell New Energies US LLC and EDF-RE Offshore Development, LLC, based in Atlantic City.

Adding a layer of environmental consideration, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently established a go-slow zone for ships off Atlantic City to protect the critically endangered North American right whale.

This move responds to the detection of right whales off Atlantic City by an undersea research glider operated by Rutgers University and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

Monday’s action by the federal agency calls for ships to avoid the area or adhere to a speed limit of 10 knots (11 mph or 17 kph) or less. This restriction is set to run through Dec. 2 and complements similar measures in four other areas in the Northeast.

Also See: Susan Rose Sinks Off Jersey Coast – Video

The intersection of renewable energy development and environmental conservation takes center stage in this evolving narrative, showcasing the complexities and considerations in the pursuit of a sustainable future.