Atlantic Power Transmission, a Blackstone Infrastructure Partners portfolio company, on Wednesday announced it is committing $50 million to workforce development in New Jersey as it specifically contributes toward creating a workforce hub for the offshore wind industry in the Northeast region and the state.
APT said it will initiate this investment, spread over 10 years, to support the New Jersey workforce upon award of its bids to provide transmission supporting the delivery of 3,600 megawatts of offshore wind power to the existing electrical grid under the New Jersey Offshore Wind SAA Transmission Solicitation initiated by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities and PJM Interconnection.
In December 2021, APT announced its bid to develop a clean power transmission solution.
The project proposed to deliver clean offshore wind power to over 1.5 million New Jersey families, enabled by an underground clean energy corridor connecting to an existing substation in Central New Jersey.
Other aspects of the bid included:
- Project supported by New Jersey union coalition, including Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters, Operating Engineers Locals 825 and 25 and Iron Workers Local 399;
- Project expected to provide over 1,000 jobs and $1.3 billion to the New Jersey economy;
- Project designed to strengthen New Jersey’s clean energy targets and to minimize impact to local communities and environment;
- Project backed by Blackstone, a proven long-term investor and operator in infrastructure, transmission and renewable energy.
“This generational investment will support New Jersey and the development of its workforce that will be necessary to build this new industry and to establish a new national standard for wind transmission,” APT CEO Andy Geissbuehler said in regard to the $50 million commitment. “Investing in New Jersey’s workforce is crucial for the future of clean energy, and this commitment to the next generation of New Jersey families reflects our company’s values.”
APT has prioritized and actively partnered with its New Jersey union coalition in support of its bids. APT also has engaged New Jersey workforce development programs to help ensure New Jersey’s workers will be well prepared to lead the next phase of the development of the offshore wind industry.
APT and its alliance partners — industry leaders with established offshore wind transmission experience — are committed to using their collective expertise and resources in offshore wind development to map out new, high-impact technical and professional employment opportunities for New Jersey citizens.
As part of this workforce development initiative and investment, APT is actively collaborating with local enterprises with a focus on diversity, equity & inclusion, statewide leadership and Middlesex academic institutions, including Middlesex College and Middlesex County Vocational and Technical Schools.
APT’s project is expected to generate $1.5 billion in economic benefits to New Jersey, including enabling 1,000 direct jobs per year during five construction years. Beyond these quantifiable benefits, APT and the New Jersey union coalition are working to establish New Jersey’s industry leadership by focusing on maximizing local manufacturing opportunities, including working with local companies and building components in-state.
See original story on roi-nj.com.