New Jersey Allocates $6MM for Wind & Other Clean Energy Projects

I first heard of this prospect from Assemblyman Gordon M. Johnson of the 37^th District in Bergen County.

In an interview with the Garden State lawmaker in June of last year, I learned that off-shore wind systems will be built near New Jersey not only to promote green energy but also to offer commercial opportunities to a range of small businesses.

Johnson said at the time that the ecology offers vast business opportunities for New Jersey firms in terms of sub-contracting for green energy projects.

“Small businesses and the legislature must have a vision of what they want New Jersey to look like 20 years from now. In that vision should be green energy, sustainability, and reducing the carbon footprint,” he had noted.

According to news reports, this plan now calls for New Jersey to spend almost $6 million to train workers for jobs in the wind energy industry and to support new companies that deal in clean energy. The New Jersey Economic Development Authority and the state Board of Public Utilities said on September 9 they have approved two funding agreements, according to New Jersey Channel 12.

In the first, the state will provide $4.5 million to support workforce development projects aimed at preparing more New Jersey workers for jobs in offshore wind. In the second, $1.25 million will be made available to support early-stage, New Jersey-based clean tech companies.

Johnson appreciates that sustainability is a vital contemporary concept that attracts the attention of entrepreneurs because it offers benefits to the community as well as small businesses. He said during our conversation that millennials in particular support companies that are sustainable, environmentally friendly and promote green energy.