Writer: Joey Garrand
2 min read April 2021 — Perhaps the most notable development in South Jersey at this time is its bustling offshore wind industry. With multiple projects under way in the region, the large, state-funded New Jersey Wind Port is set to be built in Salem County, and Salem County is expected to benefit significantly from the large investment.
So far, $200 million from the state budget has been dedicated to the Wind Port, located in Lower Alloways Creek in Salem County. The project is revolutionizing New Jersey’s economy, says Gov. Phil Murphy. “The New Jersey Wind Port will create thousands of high-quality jobs, bring millions of investment dollars to our state, and establish New Jersey as the national capital of offshore wind. This is a vital step forward in achieving our goal of reaching 7,500 megawatts of offshore wind power by 2035 and 100 percent clean energy by 2050.”
Ben Laury, Salem County Commissioner Director, discussed the significance of this project to the county with Invest:. “The future of construction and assembly of wind turbines in Salem County is incredible. This is the birth of an industry and a generational opportunity.” Laury went on to detail the impact on the local economy and how the new, high-paying jobs will be filled. “In the Salem County area, a total of about 1,500 jobs will be directly created by the industry. Indirectly, there will be a significant amount of supporting jobs and industry created. The project is being constructed adjacent to a depressed area of the county, meaning much-needed investment and recovery is expected in this area. There will be training for those jobs that are going to be needed through a partnership with Salem County Community College and Salem County Vo-Technical School.”
When asked to comment on the offshore wind industry activity in South Jersey, Marlene Asselta, president of the Southern New Jersey Development Council (SNJDC), told Invest:, “Not since the 1970s and the introduction of the gaming industry to Atlantic City has South Jersey seen an economic driver of this magnitude.” Asselta highlighted the opportunities that are expected. “The wind industry will boost employment opportunities and the overall quality of life across Southern New Jersey in ways we have not seen in the past,” she said. “Just think, an opportunity for someone to go from making $15/hour to $35/hour, and in some cases we’re talking management positions paying upward of $80,000 per year.”
A great deal of attention has come with the development of the Wind Port, and as a result, “Salem County is a secret that is getting out,” said Laury. “We have the river, the roads, the railroads, and even an expanding ‘SpitFire’ airport. We have it all, and people and industry are starting to find us. There is a lot of infrastructure change happening in the county, and we are looking forward to the planned and responsible expansion.”
For more information visit:New Jersey Government: https://www.nj.gov/
Salem County: https://www.salemcountynj.gov/
Southern New Jersey Development Council (SNJDC): https://snjdc.org/
