New Jersey Business Magazine

LS Power Grid, an electric transmission company in East Brunswick, presented its plans to bring power generated from New Jersey offshore wind farms into the state’s onshore electrical grid. Responding to the state’s request for proposals on this initiative, the company’s plans were shared publicly for the first time during a meeting hosted by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU).

“How we transport energy is just as important as how we generate it,” said Lawrence Willick, executive vice president of New Jersey-based LS Power, parent of LS Power Grid. “As such, we’re pleased to present our proposals, which offer the best value, quality and technology to support New Jersey’s ambitious clean energy goals, while protecting the environment, adding essential resiliency and reliability to the state’s aging energy infrastructure, and providing essential benefits to the state’s economy, local labor and our local communities.”

LS Power Grid’s proposals, which the company collectively calls “Clean Energy Gateway,” include multiple alternatives and options designed to integrate offshore wind power into the state’s electrical grid. The company’s proposals:

• use alternating current (AC) technology and extend the AC grid into the Atlantic, which will integrate offshore wind power in the most economic manner, while enhancing the resiliency and reliability of the state’s aging energy infrastructure;
• route subsea cables through consolidated corridors to minimize ocean environmental impact, and route on-land cables through existing corridors and rights-of-way to minimize impact on communities;
• utilize an existing shoreline landing point, where other subsea cables are already buried, and utilize advanced horizontal directional drilling technology that will place cables at least 25 feet below the shoreline, protecting New Jersey beaches;
• include firm cost containment commitments in keeping with the company’s exceptional track record for delivering major energy projects both on time and on budget; and
• will provide significant benefits for the state’s economy, local labor and our local communities.