New Jersey Clean Energy Guide
New Jersey has set one of the most ambitious offshore wind targets in the nation at 11,000 MW and aims for 100% clean energy by 2035. The state is a solar leader despite limited land, driving innovation in rooftop and community solar deployment.
Source: American Clean Power Association
Last updated: January 30, 2026
Grid Operator: PJM
New Jersey operates within PJM Interconnection and has been active in advocating for transmission infrastructure to support offshore wind and other clean energy integration.
Learn more about PJMOffshore Wind Leadership
New Jersey has the most ambitious offshore wind target on the East Coast at 11,000 MW by 2040. The state has awarded contracts for multiple projects and is investing in port infrastructure to position itself as a regional offshore wind hub.
Contracted Projects
- Ocean Wind 1: 1,100 MW project by Ørsted (faced cancellation in 2023, status uncertain)
- Atlantic Shores: 2,800+ MW in multiple phases
- Leading Light Wind: 2,400 MW project
- Attentive Energy: Additional contracted capacity
Port Infrastructure
New Jersey is developing port facilities to support offshore wind manufacturing and staging. The New Jersey Wind Port at Salem is designed for turbine marshalling and manufacturing, while additional facilities at Paulsboro support component fabrication.
Solar Market Leadership
Despite being a small, densely populated state, New Jersey has built one of the largest solar markets in the country. The state's innovative approach includes rooftop solar, community solar, and grid supply projects on landfills and brownfields.
Successor Solar Incentive Program
New Jersey's Successor Solar Incentive (SuSI) program replaced the earlier SREC market with a more structured incentive framework. The program includes separate incentive levels for residential, commercial, community solar, and grid supply projects.
Energy Storage Mandate
New Jersey has set a target of 2,000 MW of energy storage by 2030. The state is developing incentive programs and market rules to support battery deployment for grid reliability, renewable integration, and peak demand reduction.
Key Developers Active in New Jersey
- Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind (Shell/EDF): Major offshore wind developer
- Leading Light Wind (Invenergy): Offshore wind project
- Sunrun: Residential solar leader
- Community Solar Garden: Community solar developer
- CS Energy: Grid supply solar developer
- SJI Clean Energy: Solar and storage developer
Challenges & Outlook
New Jersey faces challenges including offshore wind project cancellations and cost pressures, limited land for utility-scale solar, transmission constraints for clean energy integration, and high electricity costs affecting project economics.
Despite setbacks in offshore wind, the state's strong policy framework, storage mandate, and solar market position it for continued clean energy growth. Success in offshore wind, despite current headwinds, remains critical for achieving the 2035 clean energy goal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are New Jersey's clean energy goals?
New Jersey aims for 100% clean energy by 2035 and has set one of the most aggressive offshore wind targets in the nation at 11,000 MW by 2040. The state also has significant solar deployment goals and storage mandates.
How is offshore wind developing in New Jersey?
New Jersey has awarded contracts for multiple offshore wind projects totaling over 7,500 MW, including Ocean Wind, Atlantic Shores, and Leading Light Wind. The state is developing port infrastructure at Salem and Paulsboro to support the industry.
What makes New Jersey a solar leader?
New Jersey has one of the strongest solar markets in the US due to its SREC program, net metering, and community solar. The state's limited land has driven innovative deployment on rooftops, parking canopies, and brownfields.
What is the state's energy storage mandate?
New Jersey has mandated 2,000 MW of energy storage by 2030 and is developing incentive programs to support deployment. Storage is seen as critical for integrating variable renewable generation and improving grid reliability.