ASSEMBLY, No. 5840

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

INTRODUCED JUNE 3, 2021

 


 

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman  JOHN J. BURZICHELLI

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Assemblyman  ADAM J. TALIAFERRO

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Assemblyman  ROBERT J. KARABINCHAK

District 18 (Middlesex)

Senator  STEPHEN M. SWEENEY

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

 

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Murphy

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Authorizes State Treasurer to enter lease for real property and improvements with NJEDA for construction of New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As introduced.

  


An Act authorizing the execution of leases between the State Treasurer and the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the New Jersey Wind Port.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  The Legislature finds and declares:

     a.     Executive Order No. 8 of 2018 commits the State to immediately pursue an initial 1,100 megawatts of offshore wind power and a total of 3,500 megawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, and Executive Order No. 92 of 2019 increased this power procurement target to 7,500 megawatts by 2035;

     b.  Recent awards of offshore wind energy projects along the country’s east coast have created an unprecedented opportunity to source parts and materials from the United States instead of Europe, and several states are in a time sensitive competition to become major supply chain hubs for the offshore wind energy industry;

     c.  The development of a local offshore wind energy supply chain is critical to realizing the full economic benefits of this new industry, and the development of port infrastructure, especially a marshalling, installation, and manufacturing port is critical to anchoring major offshore wind energy supply chain investments within the State and creating the high-paying port and manufacturing jobs associated therewith;

     d.  A site located in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County was identified in the New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, issued by the Board of Public Utilities in 2020, as a high-potential option for marshalling and installation activities for offshore wind energy projects; and

     e.  To ensure the development of the wind energy supply chain necessary to capture the benefits of the burgeoning offshore wind energy economy, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority has entered into negotiations to lease or purchase real property at the Lower Alloways Creek Township identified in the New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan to develop a marshalling, installation, and manufacturing wind port to be named the New Jersey Wind Port.

 

     2.  a.  Notwithstanding the provisions of the “New Jersey Building Authority Act,” P.L.1981, c.120 (C.52:18A-78.1 et seq.) or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Treasurer may enter into a lease for real property and improvements with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for real property and improvements acquired, leased, or caused to be constructed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County, provided, however, the State Treasurer shall notify, in writing, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly seven days prior to entering into a lease pursuant to this section. 

     b.  Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1962, c.220 (C.52:31-1.1 et seq.), as amended by P.L.1993, c.38 (C.13:1D-51 et seq.) and P.L.1997, c.135 (C.52:31-1.3a et al.), or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the State Treasurer may enter into a lease with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for real property and improvements for the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County.  A lease of real property and improvements by the State Treasurer to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the purposes described in this section shall not require the approval of the State House Commission, nor shall the lease of real property and improvements by the State Treasurer to the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for the New Jersey Wind Port require any further approval of the Legislature.

 

     3.  This act shall take effect immediately.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     This bill authorizes the State Treasurer to enter into a lease for real property and improvements with the New Jersey Economic Development Authority for real property and improvements acquired, leased, or caused to be constructed by the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (EDA) for the New Jersey Wind Port in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County.  The State Treasurer would be required to notify, in writing, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly seven days prior to entering into a lease pursuant to the bill. 

     Recent awards of offshore wind energy projects along the country’s east coast have created an unprecedented opportunity to source parts and materials from the United States instead of Europe, and several states are in a time sensitive competition to become major supply chain hubs for the offshore wind energy industry.  A site located in Lower Alloways Creek Township, Salem County was identified in the New Jersey Offshore Wind Strategic Plan, issued by the Board of Public Utilities in 2020, as a high-potential option for marshalling and installation activities for offshore wind energy projects.  The EDA has entered into negotiations to lease or purchase real property at the identified site in Lower Alloways Creek Township to develop a marshalling, installation, and manufacturing wind port to be named the New Jersey Wind Port.  The development of a local offshore wind energy supply chain is critical to realizing the full economic benefits of this new industry, and the development of port infrastructure, especially a marshalling, installation, and manufacturing port, is critical to anchoring major offshore wind energy supply chain investments within the State and creating the high-paying port and manufacturing jobs associated with these investments.