TRENTON, N.J. — As offshore wind projects face mounting obstacles in New Jersey, state lawmakers are shifting their focus to a new renewable energy source: offshore tidal and wave energy.
On Wednesday, the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee advanced Assembly Bill No. 1478, which directs the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to approve a pilot project for wave and tidal energy. The pilot program aims to gather critical data to evaluate the long-term feasibility of these technologies as part of New Jersey’s clean energy portfolio.
Under the bill, the BPU and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will conduct a comprehensive study within 12 months of the pilot project’s completion. The study will assess the environmental, economic, and technical viability of expanding wave and tidal energy operations in the state.
Within 15 months after the pilot wraps up, the BPU president and DEP commissioner must submit a full report to the governor and state legislature. This report will outline their findings and offer policy recommendations, including a strategic plan to integrate wave and tidal energy into New Jersey’s broader energy strategy.
New energy goals to be set through 2050
The strategic plan will establish generation targets for wave and tidal energy for the years 2030, 2040, and 2050. These targets are intended to guide future state efforts to scale up deployment of the new technology and incorporate it into New Jersey’s overall energy mix.
The Energy Master Plan Committee will also be required to include these new findings and goals in future revisions of the state’s Energy Master Plan, which serves as the roadmap for New Jersey’s energy policy.
Assembly Bill No. 1478 was introduced during the 2024-2025 legislative session and has undergone technical review prior to the committee’s favorable report.
New Jersey’s pivot to tidal energy comes as multiple offshore wind projects have been delayed or canceled due to rising costs and community opposition.